WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON This is one birthday she'll celebrate

The world's oldest woman said her fondest memory is her parents' love.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NORTH LIMA -- Now that she is the oldest person in the world, Charlotte Benkner might want to consider hiring a secretary.
"It's getting to be so busy I can't handle all of her calls," jokes Roger Herrmann, executive vice president of Glenellen Senior Suites and Villas, where Benkner resides with her 99-year-old sister, Tillie O'Hare.
After learning Thursday morning that she is now the world's oldest living person, according to the London-based Guinness Book of Records, Benkner took it in stride.
"My, my. Isn't that something. What should we do?" she asked Herrmann.
A 114-year-old Japanese woman who had assumed the title of the world's oldest person just weeks ago died Thursday, said a city spokesman in Hiroshima, Japan. Benkner was next on the list of oldest people.
Benkner "just lives each day as it is. She never got excited about her birthday until this year -- it didn't mean anything to her," said Mary O'Hare, who is married to Benkner's nephew, George O'Hare of Boardman.
"'Oh, it's just another birthday,'" is what Aunt Charlotte would say. "This year, Aunt Charlotte said, 'I didn't realize how old I was. I guess it is something to be this old,'" O'Hare said.
Keys to longevity
Benkner attributes her longevity to genes -- her father lived to be 95 -- and a healthy lifestyle.
"She's always been one that must have a good breakfast. She'll have her cereal and juice, sometimes eggs," O'Hare said. "She always has vegetables and fruits -- that hasn't changed as long as I've known her. She's always maintained a good diet, never drank or smoked, and was careful about the sun.
"She and her husband hiked and skated, took long walks. They were the outdoors type of people," O'Hare said.
Benkner's start in life, however, was somewhat precarious.
She was born premature and was so fragile at birth that she had to be carried on a pillow, O'Hare said.
Born Nov. 16, 1889 in Leipzig, Germany, Benkner moved to New York with her family six or seven years later. There were 11 children in her family, but only seven reached adulthood, O'Hare said; the others died of pneumonia or childhood illnesses.
Benkner and Tillie, the baby of the family, are all that remain.
Best invention
Over her 114 years, Benkner has witnessed a lot of changes in the world, her niece said. "She says the best invention was the washer and dryer for the women, because they always had to work so hard."
Her fondest memory "is the love she received from her parents," O'Hare said.
Benkner and her family were to hold a press conference and early birthday celebration this afternoon.
Her official birthday party will be Sunday. President Bush and all the mayors in Ohio have been invited.
kubik@vindy.com