Ruby McNally was born in August 19, 1926. She worked as a nurse for decades… Courtesy McNally family©

Woman, 100, who still drives a car and lives on her own has 6 tips for a long life

Story by A. Pawlowski

Ruby McNally is a 100-year-old woman – Search Videos who lives by herself, still drives a car to get around town and enjoys cooking her own meals.

She’s already an extraordinary centenarian. But then, there’s also her passion for skydiving. McNally likes to celebrate big birthdays in the sky, so when she recently turned 100, it was time to strap into a parachute again, her third time doing a tandem jump.

When asked if she has any anxiety about leaping out of a plane, she’s quick to answer.

“None whatsoever. It was so exciting. I love it,” McNally, who lives in Roseville, California, tells TODAY.com.

“You’re just floating around up there in the air and looking at the whole Earth below you. And coming down was no problem. I land with my feet out straight, and get up and walk away. … The whole thing is awesome.”

The skydiving adventure began when McNally turned 80 and one of her grandsons challenged her to do it. She discovered “she absolutely loved it,” says her daughter, Sharon McNally. She returned for her 90th birthday and then her 100th, when four of her grandchildren jumped with her.

“They loved it. To them, it’s like, how many people get to go skydiving with their 100-year-old grandmother?” Sharon McNally, 74, notes.

Ruby McNally was born on August 19, 1926, in Illinois. Her family moved to Vermont when she was a toddler, and that’s where she grew up.

She became a nurse, married twice and was widowed twice. She has seven children, who now range in age from 62 to 77. Longevity runs in her family — one of her sisters recently passed away at 101. Two other siblings lived into their 90s.

McNally, sitting in the center, is surrounded by her seven children. ©Courtesy McNally family

McNally lives independently in her home, and drives to stores and appointments.

“I just live life each day as it comes, enjoy each day and enjoy life,” the centenarian says.

Here are her tips for living a long life:

Eat a Nutritious Diet

McNally credits her healthy childhood in the Vermont countryside as a factor in her longevity. Her parents always had a garden full of fresh vegetables and wild berries.

Part of preparing a meal was picking corn, lettuce and tomatoes, her daughter notes.

“It was just a more of a clean-living type of a lifestyle. And yes, we had sweets, but it was all natural foods. There were no chemicals,” Ruby McNally says. “My advice would be to eat as natural as possible.”

McNally at age 11. She grew up in Vermont. © Courtesy McNally family

Today, she buys “almost strictly organic” produce and meat. Breakfast usually includes eggs or whole grain cereal with a banana. Lunch might be a bit of cheese and an apple, if anything at all. Dinner depends on what organic options are available at the market that week.

She keeps fresh fruits and vegetables on hand to snack on, including cherry tomatoes and red grapes; eats produce in its raw form as often as she can and avoids sweets.

The centenarian loves coffee, starting her day with two cups in the morning — a habit that comes with many health benefits. She never drinks alcohol.

Everything in Moderation

Even though McNally now limits sweets, she grew up in a “lifestyle that had a lot of dessert.”

“When I grew up, I am literally telling you that I ate everything in sight, anything and everything, and I never gained a pound in my entire life,” she says.

McNally, left, with four of her grandchildren who went skydiving with her on her 100th birthday in August. (Courtesy McNally family)© Courtesy McNally family

“Every food, every dessert, whatever was there, I ate it. I ate nonstop growing up.”

These days, she finds she’s not hungry for dessert after eating a satisfying meal.

Move Your Body

Living in the country as a child meant McNally spent a lot of time outdoors climbing trees, swimming, hiking mountains and generally being active all day long. She was the captain of the girls’ basketball team in high school.

Adulthood was different because McNally was raising seven children and was too busy for a structured exercise routine.

But as she got older, she’s always done a lot of walking, a workout that boosts physical and mental health. McNally doesn’t use a cane or a walker, but has recently slowed down a bit because of an achy knee.

Be Adventurous

The centenarian’s first husband was in the military, so she lived “pretty much all up and down the East Coast” in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The family was transferred to California in 1958.

After her husband passed away at an early age, she remarried and moved again.

McNally prepares to skydive at SkyDance SkyDiving in Davis, California, in August for her 100th birthday. “It was so exciting. I love it,” she said about the experience. It was her third time jumping out of a plane. © Courtesy McNally family

Ruby McNally — 100-Year-Old Centenarian and Skydiving Enthusiast

Ruby McNally is indeed a 100-year-old woman, born August 19, 1926, in Illinois, now living independently in Roseville, California, and celebrated her milestone by skydiving. Today+1

Life and Background

McNally grew up in rural Vermont after her family moved there as a toddler Today. She worked as a nurse for decades, married twice, was widowed twice, and has seven children aged 62 to 77 Today. Longevity runs in her family — one sister recently died at 101, and two other siblings lived into their 90s Today.

Independent Lifestyle

At 100, McNally still drives herself to stores and appointments, cooks her own meals, and lives alone Today+1. She describes her approach to life as “living each day as it comes, enjoying each day and enjoying life” Today.

Skydiving Tradition

McNally made skydiving a birthday tradition — her first tandem jump was at age 80, the second at 90, and the latest at 100 Today+1. For her 100th birthday, she and four grandchildren jumped together over Davis, California CBS News. She says, “There’s nothing to be scared of… I love it” Today+1.

Longevity Tips

McNally credits her upbringing for her health:

Eat naturally — she avoids artificial chemicals, eats mostly organic produce, whole grains, and raw fruits/vegetables Times of India.
Moderation, not restriction — she enjoyed desserts as a child without weight issues Times of India.
Stay active and engaged — she says “If you slow down, life is over” and enjoys keeping life exciting CBS News.

Legacy

Her family and friends see her as an inspiration for living actively and joyfully regardless of age CBS News. McNally herself hopes for future adventures, saying, “If God keeps me going, then we’ll just talk about it later” CBS News.

In short, Ruby McNally’s story blends independence, active living, and adventurous spirit — making her one of the most extraordinary centenarians in public attention today Today+2.

“Her whole spirit is just never give up, move forward, don’t be afraid of anything, and that’s kind of how she lived her life,” her daughter, Sharon McNally, says. “She absolutely loves skydiving. No fear, whatsoever.”

Love Your Job

Ever since McNally was a child, her dream was to become a nurse. After high school, she went directly into nursing school and started working as a general nurse when she was 21.

She stepped away from the job while raising her kids, but returned to the profession after her children were older and became a labor and delivery nurse.