Helen Wheat

Helen Wheat

Validated

Helen Ida Wheat (Sept. 16, 1902 - Feb. 16, 2016) is a verified American supercentenarian who is at the age of 121 years, 215 days, was the oldest living person in Maryland and the 3rd oldest American and the 2nd oldest American-born person, after Susannah Mushatt Jones. She was the 16th oldest living person at the time of her passing at the age of 113. She was born in York, Pennsylvania and lived in Frederick, Maryland.

Biography

Helen Wheat was born on 16 September 1902 and was the youngest of 4 siblings. Her mother lived to the age of 93. When she was 14, she left school to work at York Co. to support her family. She married Harvey Pierce Naylor but they divorced when their children were young. She married again, to Bill Wheat and moved to Maryland before 1935. She later worked at her son's winery, working in the vineyard until 93 and stopped working at the age of 97. She liked wine and credited holding a glass of wine every evening to her longevity. She lived with her son in York county until she had a fall and bad health resulted in her moving to the Homewood Retirement Center in Frederick in 2007. On her 112th birthday, it was reported that her dementia had worsened. She had three children, nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren at the time.

References

• York Daily Record (September 15, 2015)
• Frederick News Post (September 16, 2014)