Grile, oldest in state, died at age 110

The oldest woman in Indiana died Friday.

Ilah Faye Ogan Grile of Pennville died about 10:40 a.m. Friday at the age of 110 at her home.

Her family said she had been confirmed as the oldest living resident in the state. She assumed that position following the death of Ruth MacNeil of South Bend at the age of 111 on Dec. 7.

Ilah became something of a celebrity around Pennville in recent years, receiving hundreds of cards on her birthdays. 

Born on Feb. 27, 1915, in Pennville, she was a lifelong Jay County resident. She graduated from Pennville High School in 1933 and attended her 90th reunion in 2023 at the age of 108.

On that evening, she said she had always been up for challenges, recalling once climbing a fire tower at a park in Bluffton shortly after a hospital visit.

"Anytime anybody asks me to do anything, if I thought at all I could be a part of it, I was always willing to try it, and I've been mostly all successful," said Ilah. "I guess I got kind of tired of people saying I can't do this and I can't do that and I can't do the other. I always tried.”

She grew up on a 40-acre farm owned by her parents William Albert Ogan and Alice Arvilla (Stewart) Ogan just outside of Pennville. She married her husband, Willard, in Jay County on April 6, 1941.

Ilah co-owned the I&M Foodliner grocery store in Pennville with her son, Mike, for about 18 years. Her first job was at Ted Langlo’s shoe store in Portland and she also worked at other grocery stores, Jay Garment Company and McDonald’s.

She attended Sugar Grove Church of the Nazarene, where she was honored in 2013 for teaching Sunday School for more than 50 years.

“I’ve taught about all ages,” Ilah said at the time, noting that her favorite were the young married couples. “Oh I like the young people,” she added.

Grile recalled a time as a child when her church offered a prize for the person who brought in the most flowers to decorate the worship hall. Taking advantage of her father’s farm ground, she gathered a washtub full of wild daisies. After all that effort, she said, the prize turned out to be a large lollipop.

“I expected more,” she admitted.

At her 90th reunion, she said she spent most of her time coloring with gel pens. She initially picked up the habit for her grandchildren, but lately folks have been bringing her frames and books to fill.

And she was still keeping up with the Christmas cactus given to her by her mother-in-law more than 80 years ago.

Services for Ilah are scheduled from 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, at Walker & Glancy Funeral Home, 109 W. Windsor St., Montpelier. Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, and for one hour Monday before the service.

Though she had spent some time in nursing homes, Ilah died at her home in Pennville, where Mike had been a regular visitor and her grandson Jeff Grile spent evenings with her.

“They’ve all been very good to me,” she said.