Wenonah Bish, Illinois’ oldest living person, celebrated her 112th birthday

Wenonah Bish at the age of 111.

The Gerontology Research Group is pleased to announce that Mrs. Wenonah Bish, the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Illinois, celebrated her 112th birthday in Sherman, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA on 2 October 2024.

Wenonah Bish was born in Springfield, Illinois, USA on 2 October 1912. She attended Springfield High School. One of her aunts, Jessie Rollins, lived to be 107.

In the early 1930s, she married William Wright, with whom she had two children: Donald Wright Sr. and Delores Hughes (born 1933). She later remarried to Edgar A. Bish. She worked at Sangamo Electric.

At the age of 109, she underwent hip replacement surgery. She recovered from COVID-19 on two occasions.

On 2 October 2022, she celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.

On 8 June 2024, following the death of 112-year-old Susie Lewis, she became the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Illinois.

Springfield-area woman turning 112 years old is likely state’s oldest resident