Oldest In America: Hunterdon County Woman Turns 114

UNION TOWNSHIP, NJ — New Jersey native Adele Dunlap celebrated a milestone birthday turning 114, making her the oldest American.

She claimed the title of oldest American when Goldie Michelson of Massachusetts died on July 8, according to nj.com.

Dunlap is also among the top 10 oldest people in the world, according to Gerontology Research Group. The oldest is a woman in Italy who is 117.

Dunlap has lived at the Country Arch Care Center in Hunterdon County since she was 99. U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance and state Assemblyman Erik Peterson both had visited her in August to present her with flowers and a proclamation.

Dunlap was born in the Clinton Hill section of Newark on Dec. 12, 1902, where she was the youngest of four children, with three older brothers. After graduating from Southside High School in Newark, she entered Newark State Normal School to prepare for a teaching career, according to nj.com.

She taught third grade for five years before meeting her husband Earl. They had three children. She eventually lived in Clinton Township with her son and his wife, Earl and Barbara Dunlap, for 12 years before moving to Country Arch Care Center, according to nj.com.

(Photos provided: U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance and state Assemblyman Erik Peterson visiting Dunlap in August.)

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