Janet Crampton has done a lot of living in 106 years.
Born in Washington, D.C., on April 3, 1916, Crampton's earliest memories include when she was just 2 years old and had to stay inside because of the 1918 influenza pandemic. She attended the University of Maryland, where she joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was the women's editor of the college newspaper, and after graduating in 1937, she became a dietitian in government cafeterias.
Crampton married in 1939, and her new husband owned a flooring business; while he was installing floors in the White House, Crampton was able to meet first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. At age 45, Crampton changed careers and became a teacher — and she still keeps in touch with her fellow educators and others she met while at Primary Day School in Bethesda.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Today, Crampton is as active as ever, spending her days playing cards, games, and bingo with her friends at the Brighton Gardens of Friendship Heights senior living community in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and talking to her "two wonderful sons" who call her every day.
To celebrate her 106th birthday on Sunday, the staff at Brighton Gardens of Friendship Heights threw Crampton a party, inviting all of her friends and decorating the space with photos of Crampton from throughout her life. "Janet was tickled pink," business office coordinator Karen Seth told The Week in an email. "She was so honored and told us she felt like the queen of the day." For Crampton, there's no secret to living such a long and fulfilling life — when asked why she's made it to 106, Crampton always responds, "It's God's will."
-
Settling the West Bank: a death knell for a Palestine state?In the Spotlight The reality on the ground is that the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal
-
Sudoku medium: August 23, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sudoku hard: August 23, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
Experience the cool of these 11 stunning pools and lazy rivers this summerThe Week Recommends You'll want to dive right in
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Your inner romper is going to wild out at these 7 adult summer campsThe Week Recommends You're never too old to go back to camp
