The sinking of the Titanic, the Great Depression, two world wars, miraculous medical breakthroughs and the advent of new technology–one Cupertino woman has seen it all.

Gladys Allison, born in 1908, has lived through 19 presidents, 15 military conflicts and mankind’s giant leap into outer space.

Allison celebrated her 107th birthday today at The Forum at Rancho San Antonio senior leaving community, where she resides.

Her secret to longevity? “Well I always said, eat three meals a day. Don’t skip meals, that’s important,” Allison said. “And take a walk every day, get out in the sunshine. Take a walk, and that’s it.”

Linda Gustafson, activities manager at The Forum, said Allison is a special person. “You can just look at her and she just glows all the time. She’s very very sweet.”

Gustafson said Allison stays active and frequents many events at the retirement community.

“She’s very social, she goes to all of our programs,” Gustafson said. “She loves bingo and she loves music. She loves socials, and sitting down one-on-one and talking to people.”

More than 20 fellow Forum residents showed up to wish Allison well by singing happy birthday and sharing cake.

Allison’s daughter, Joan Howerter, said her mother was an avid gardener for most of her life and until recently was a “master” of the card game bridge.

Allison lived in Mountain View for 30 years and one of her neighbors there, Nancy Struck, attended the birthday celebration for her friend, who she calls “mom.”

“She just has a wonderful attitude about life, she is not judgmental,” Struck said. “It’s hard to describe.”

Struck also mentioned Allison’s penchant for bridge.

“The fact that she played bridge, it kept her mind sharp,” she said. “Everybody wanted her as a partner when she moved here.”

Born in Pierre, South Dakota, Allison said she and her family moved to Cannon Falls, Minnesota by wagon when she was a child.

Allison married twice–the second time at the age of 71. From her first marriage she has two children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild; and from her second marriage she has three stepchildren who had multiple children and grandchildren.

Friend and fellow Forum resident Liz Maxhimer, who turned 101 in June, said Allison hasn’t stopped caring about her appearance.

“She’s always looked perfect,” Maxhimer said. “Her hair is always done, her face, her makeup and a smile on her face. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.”

Maxhimer also said that her key to longevity may be attitude.

“It’s hard to compare [longevity secrets],” she said. “Well, you can’t. There’s no one else that age. But the number one most important thing is activity, and number two is thinking positive. And I think she’s probably done that her whole life.”

Good genes may be a factor too, as Allison’s mother lived to be 105 and her father lived well into his 80s.

The oldest living woman in the world is Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York, who turned 116 on July 6.