Ankeny centenarian turns the big 105
An Ankeny woman is getting used to celebrating milestone birthdays. On Tuesday, Velma Chestnut turned 105 years old.
The year Chestnut was born, 1920, women had just earned the right to vote, and prohibition was just beginning. Despite living through countless history-making moments, Chestnut credits her longevity to "not overdoing it."
"My life is just plain and just regular," she said. "Don't overdo things, do things that are necessary and things that you like to do."
The Suites of Ankeny celebrated the centenarian's birthday in style with a birthday party with family and friends and a birthday cake, Chestnut says, that looked tasty.
"I haven't had any. Oh, yeah, I had them. Tell me all one slice. But I don't eat a lot of sweets, but I don't, I don't know. I don't know where that piece of cake is," she said with a laugh.
For her birthday, she received 105 birthday cards, each filled with a dollar. Chestnut said she takes aging one day at a time.
"I just know I'm healthy and happy and doing okay with what's going on with me and for me," she said.
Chestnut has three children, five grandchildren and countless great and great-great-grandchildren.