‘This is wonderful’: Woman celebrates 105 years of life surrounded by family

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) - A woman in Florida is celebrating her milestone 105th birthday.

Trudy Buckwalter blew out candles and cut the cake surrounded by family members.

“This is wonderful,” Buckwalter said. “Of course, having all these people that are here that know me and some I didn’t know, of course, that I have gotten [really] acquainted with.”

Buckwalter is spending this special birthday with more than 20 family members, including her daughter Mary Ann Dawson.

“Oh, it’s awesome, she’s been a wonderful mom,” Dawson said.

Staff at the Brookedale Destin retirement community, where Buckwalter lives, said she is the only 105-year-old in the community.

“She is the most ambulatory in the facility and she is very much at 105,” Dawson said.

Janet Buckwalter Zimmerman, another of Buckwalter’s daughters, said her mother has accomplished so much in her life, including helping create a school for children with special needs in Wooster, Ohio.

“I’m amazed but I’m not amazed because she has always been a strong person, strong-willed, independent,” she said.

Buckwalters’ daughters said their mother has always been active, eating right and taking care of her body.

“She loved golf and bridge, so she kept her mind active, so I admire her even more because of that,” Zimmerman said.

Buckwalter holds the spot for the oldest person at Brookdale Destin. The next oldest person is 101 years old, according to WJHG.

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