| Rafael Chinchilla | |
 Chinchilla at the age of 110 | |
| Birth: | 23 October 1912 Turin, Ahuachapan Department, El Salvador |
| Death: | 30 August 2023 Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Department, El Salvador |
| Age: | 110 years, 311 days |
| Country: |  SLV
|
| Validated | |
Rafael Chinchilla (23 October 1912 – 30 August 2023) was a Salvadoran supercentenarian whose age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) in 2023. He was the oldest known living person in El Salvador at time of his death.
Biography[]
Rafael Chinchilla was born in Turin, Ahuachapan Department, El Salvador on 23 October 1912. He grew up and dedicated himself to agricultural production, since he did not have any opportunity to study, because, at the age of 12, he began working to help his family with expenses. At the age of 15, he took responsibility for his four brothers, since his mother passed away. Later, he moved to El Centro neighborhood of Ciudad Arce, La Libertad, where he has spent most of his life.
Despite the fact that he was never able to attend school, Chinchilla was presented with the opportunity to learn to read and write, and he did so at the age of 105, because one of his goals was always to be able to obtain new knowledge, and reading and writing were no exception. In 2018, he began his studies and joined the course with high expectations, where he was able to share with people of all ages. With the support of his family and his own effort due to his desire to improve, he managed to finish the first level and graduated thanks to the National Literacy Program, in November of the same year when he had already turned 106 years old.
In October 2022, Chinchilla celebrated his 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian. At the time, he had eight children, 21 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was also able to walk unassisted.
He became the oldest known living man in El Salvador, following the death of 111-year-old Santos Rivas on 17 April 2023. 10 days later, he became the oldest known living person in El Salvador, following the death of 111-year-old Sabina Garay on 27 April 2023.
Rafael Chinchilla died in Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Department, El Salvador on 30 August 2023 at the age of 110 years, 311 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Aprender a leer a los 105 años de edad. Conozca la historia de don Rafael Chinchilla. Informativo Teledos on Facebook, 1 September 2018
- A los 106 años, don Rafael aprendió a leer y a escribir La Prensa Grafica, 9 September 2019
- 109th birthday Francisco Lira on Twitter, 24 October 2021
- Ya casi cumple los 110 años... Entrevista a don Rafael Chinchilla, la persona con más años de vida actualmente en Ciudad Arce Carlos "Caliche" Argumedo on Facebook, 26 July 2022
- 110th birthday Francisco Lira on Twitter, 23 October 2022
- Feliz Cumpleaños 110 🎁🎂🎉 mi querido Abuelito Francisco Lira on Facebook, 24 October 2022
- 110 años: Rafael Chinchilla, el habitante con más edad de Ciudad Arce El Salvador.com, 30 October 2022
- Death mention Francisco Lira on Facebook, 30 August 2023
| El Salvador's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Santos Rivas • Sabina Garay • Rafael Chinchilla • Bernabe Serrano Chavez |
| El Salvador's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Santos Rivas • Rafael Chinchilla |