If you ever forget to live life to the fullest, and forget to smell the roses, look no further than Pat Thomas. Call it good genes, or a great attitude. Pat turned 114 this year. She is now the oldest living natural born U.S. Resident, and the third oldest person in the world.
"She has got me beat by quite a few years," said St. Francis Nursing Home Resident Harry Hardman.
That would be 30. Harry is one of Pat's friends at St. Francis, which believe it or not, is a fairly new address for her. Until she was 109, Pat lived at home.
"We can only imagine 114 years and all of the history that has passed from then until now," said Activities Coordinator Carol Franklin.
Pat has lived through 21 presidents. Grover Cleveland was President when she was born. She has lived through two world wars, the great depression, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam era.
Pat was born in Iowa, and met her late husband Frederick in grade school. They came here in 1946 when he got a job at UB, and Pat became very active in many garden clubs. She was even known as the plant lady. Her love for flowers is still evident today. By the way, the two people who are older than her are older by just about a month.
Twitter
Facebook