Obituaries : Anna Williams, 114; Oldest Person

A woman recognized as the oldest person in the world has died at the age of 114 years and 209 days, a government official said Tuesday.

Anna Williams died Sunday night at the Tuxedo Home for the Aged in Swansea, southern Wales, where she had lived for several years, said Hugh Gardener, assistant director of West Glamorgan Social Services, which runs the home.

“She died really of old age,” Gardener said. “She just sort of ran out of steam.”

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Mrs. Williams became the world’s oldest living person when Mamie Keith of Libertyville, Ill., died in September, 1986, at age 113.

The oldest authenticated inhabitant of the world now becomes Maren Torp of Norway, who celebrated her 111th birthday last week.

Mrs. Williams was born when Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States and lived under six British monarchs, starting with Queen Victoria, and 21 prime ministers.

A former cook whose husband died 33 years ago, Mrs. Williams is survived by her daughter, Constance Harvey, who attributed her mother’s long life to a calm temperament and a hearty appetite for plain food.