Skydiving Senior Citizens Prove Aging Can Be Fun

Growing Older Doesn't Mean Giving Up...

A few days go, I read an article about a woman in her 90's who wanted to skydive. I don't know much about skydiving, and even less about skydiving senior citizens, but as someone who has provided care for many elderly ladies, I wanted to applaud this stranger.

Although it is becoming more common to see the elderly remain active even into their 100's, enjoying all types of activities, I know there is still a lot of apathy that comes with aging. I saw a lot of women who succumbed to social expectations of how they were supposed to act. Environment and geography can influence that quite a bit.

However, there are rebels in every generation, and some of them obviously never grow out of their love for adventure. Some of the following women should stand as role models to people of all ages. Many are repeating an adventure they love...while others are scratching one more thing off of their bucket list:

• 1. Evelyn Stolz, an ex WWII vet who finally got to skydive for the first time this year. She was 90 years old, and claimed that this was something she had wanted to do all of her life. 

• 2. Ruby Leach was 90 years old when she took her first tandem jump from a plane. She wasn't strong enough to climb into the plane by herself, but her spirit was made of steel. She made the jump without fear and said it was fabulous experience. 

• 3. In November 2014, Eleanor Cunningham, age 100, took a birthday jump from a plane. This bold skydive was her third. She first jumped at age 90, and vowed to repeat the feat every five years on her birthday. She plans to jump again, with the same partner, when she is 105. 

4. Charmaine Coleman, a London resident, made a jump at the age of 81. She did it to raise money to benefit the Army Benevolent Fund. And also because she wanted to feel a little adrenaline. Ms. Coleman had jumped before, over 40 years ago, while taking a free fall course in the service.


5. Geneva Cranford, age 80 was another birthday jumper, She spent 74 years dreaming of taking the plunge. She was no stranger to the skies though, Ms. Crawford was a seasoned pilot and all around adventurer.

Although you don't have to take to the skies, or even try an earthbound extreme sport in order to enjoy life, there is a lot to be learned from these skydiving senior citizens. They set a great example of what anyone can do if they have the right attitude about aging. Growing "old" does not mean you have to give up on life.