of world's oldest person dies in los angeles at 115

World's oldest person dies in Los Angeles at 115: Gertrude Baines, who was named the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records, died on Friday at a nursing home. She was 115.


Gertrude Baines celebrates her 115th birthday at the Western Convalescent Hospital in Los Angeles in April 2009 [photo via]

Gertrude Baines, who lived to be the world's oldest person on a steady diet of crispy bacon, fried chicken and ice cream, died Friday at a nursing home. She was 115.

Baines, who remarked last year that she enjoyed life so much she wouldn't mind living another 100 years, died in her sleep, said Emma Camanag, administrator at Western Convalescent Hospital.

The centenarian likely suffered a heart attack, said her longtime physician, Dr. Charles Witt. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death.

"I saw her two days ago, and she was just doing fine," Witt told The Associated Press. "She was in excellent shape. She was mentally alert. She smiled frequently."

Born in 1894 in Shellman, Ga., Baines claimed the title of the world's oldest living person when a 115-year-old woman, Maria de Jesus, died in Portugal in January.