| Alma Kahl | |
 Kahl at the age of 110 | |
| Birth: | 6 July 1911 Montgomery, West Virginia, USA |
| Death: | 3 March 2023 Portsmouth, Ohio, USA |
| Age: | 111 years, 240 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Unvalidated | |
Alma Kahl (née Fraser; 6 July 1911 – 3 March 2023) was an American supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). She was the oldest known living person in Ohio at the time of her death.
Biography[]
Alma Kahl was born in Montgomery, West Virginia, USA on 6 July 1911, the oldest child of John R. and Beatrice (née Price) Fraser. Kahl attended West Virginia University to study Social Studies and received her teaching certificate for 8th-12th grade. In 1935, while at West Virginia University, she was chosen as one of the five most beautiful West Virginia co-eds and was later crowned Miss West Virginia University beauty queen. A few years later, Kahl decided to go back to graduate school to receive her master’s degree in Social Studies. She married John Byron Hannah in October 1936, but the marriage did not last.
In 1950, Kahl met her husband, Cyrus. They married in January 1952 and then moved to Portsmouth, Ohio. Over the years, the couple traveled around the world together. Once, during what would become a significant trip to Europe, Kahl was invited to have tea with Queen Elizabeth II and she still remembered this tea. Her husband died in 1971.
In addition to traveling, Kahl loved to entertain her family and friends and would often host large dinner parties for her family and friends at her home. Around 1968, Kahl became involved with the local arts and was an instrumental organizer of a major cultural event that honored artists from Portsmouth who made a name of themselves in the art world.
In 1996, when the Vern Riffe Center for the Performing Arts was under construction, Kahl advised that the seating be increased based on past audience numbers. Subsequently, Kahl made a generous donation which helped to fund the “Kahl Black Box Theatre.” Kahl later received a letter from the Ohio Senate thanking her for her outstanding service and contributions to the Portsmouth Area Arts Council Board. Kahl was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church and was honored in 2016 as the woman of the year.
Kahl had served with the Portsmouth Area Arts Council, the Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association, the Sister Cities organization, and the Scioto Christian Ministries board. Kahl had experienced many events throughout her life, such as the 1937 Portsmouth flood, climbing the Great Wall of China, traveling to Hong Kong, Europe and Antarctica, receiving personal letters from President Bush and of course, having tea with the Queen of the United Kingdom.
Alma Kahl died at Hill View Retirement Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, USA, on 3 March 2023 at the age of 111 years, 240 days.
Gallery[]
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