Ivy Bean, World's Oldest Twitter User, Dies @104

(July 28) -- You're never too old to adapt to changes in the modern world.

That's certainly one of the lessons of Ivy Bean's life. Bean passed away on July 27 at the age of 104. Born in England in 1905, she worked in a mill when she was growing up. After World War I, she married Harold Gibson Bean and took a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. Her husband died when she was in her 70s, the London Daily Mail reported, and nearly a quarter century later, at the age of 102, she joined Facebook and then Twitter.

From her home in the English town of Bradford she started posting details of her life.

The subject of numerous articles regarding her elderly embrace of technology, Bean became a big presence on social-networking sites, amassing more than 5,000 friends on Facebook and nearly 60,000 followers on Twitter.

As a result of her notoriety, she was invited to No. 10 Downing St., where she tweeted about using the toilet in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's study.

Her humble, unassuming messages endeared her to strangers. They paint a sometimes poignant portrait of a woman living out her days with an appreciation for all that is around her.

has any one else had fish and chips today i have and they were lovelyless than a minute ago via webIvy Bean
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She counted pop stars and media personalities among her followers, demonstrating the bright side of technology and its power to connect people of all walks of life.

On Thursday, the manager at the elderly-care home where Bean had been admitted broke the news to her followers.

"Ivy passed away peacefully at 12.08 this morning," the manager wrote, adding, "I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you, but it was a very difficult thing to do."

Her passing may prove difficult for many of her followers to accept, for in her frequent Twitter messages she acted as a soothing, positive presence to the thousands who read her earnest, gentle words. Even the micro-blogging company itself offered tribute to the departed tweetheart:

RIP to the delightful Ivy Bean. Thank you, @ivybean104, for making Twitter a better place in your 104th year. http://bit.ly/97KfBYless than a minute ago via webTwitter
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