Doris Boothe Wanty, 44-W-8 | Jan. 6, 2018

"After seeing the July 19, 1943 issue of Life Magazine, and the article on the pilot's training at Avenger Field, I decided this was the war effort I wished to pursue. ...   After my first lesson, I was hooked! 

                                        WASP Doris Wanty

WASP Doris Irene Boothe Wanty, age 95 of Oakdale, CA peacefully passed away on January 6, 2018, in her home.

She was born October 18, 1922, in Yosemite Valley, California the daughter of Clyde Dudley Boothe (One of the first park rangers in Yosemite), and Mildred Rowena Palmer Boothe of Modesto, California.

Doris' family moved to Modesto in 1929, where her father started Valley Tractor and later went into cattle ranching. She graduated from Modesto High School in 1940 and received her AA in Music from the College of the Pacific in 1942. There she was active in Epsilon Sigma Lambda Sorority: later nationalized and was initiated into Delta Gamma.

In August of 1943, after seeing an article in LIFE Magazine about the WASP, (Women Airforce Service Pilots), she obtained the required 35 hours of flight instruction in Independence, CA, She applied and received orders to report to Avenger Field, Sweetwater TX for the WASP training program. Doris was one of only 49 graduates of the original 114 accepted into class 44-W-8.  After graduating in October of 1944, she was assigned to Waco Army Air Base, TX, where she slow-timed engines, tested repaired or overhauled planes, transported military personnel and flew BT-13's and AT-6's.

After the WASP were deactivated on Dec. 22, 1944, she returned to Modesto and then worked at the Oakland Airport as an airway traffic controller.

In the summer of 1949 touring Europe, she met the love of her life Merritt (Mike) Wanty, from Oakland, CA, in Florence, Italy. They were married September 24,1949 in Modesto and lived in Dhahran, Arabia where Mike was employed as a geologist with ARAMCO. In the spring of 1951, they returned to Oakdale, CA where they have lived on their cattle and almond ranch and raised their four children.

Her greatest joys have been her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends, including the same bridge club for 60 plus years, spending summers at their cabin in the mountains, and playing the piano. She was a 4-H leader, a member of McHenry Museum and the McHenry Mansion, Omega Nu Sorority, and Geneva Presbyterian Church in Modesto.

In 1977, Doris including all WASP were granted Veteran status and in 2009, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Later in life, she and Mike traveled on several cruises and enjoyed WASP and Mike's Navy Destroyer reunions.

Doris is survived by her husband of 68 years, Merritt (Mike) Ward Wanty, her daughter's Diane Ravanesi (Pat) Western Springs, IL, Christine Sutton (Bob) Blossom, TX, Carol Ehrler (Bill) Modesto, and son, Merritt (Jake) Wanty (Victoria) Oakdale, a loving brother Everett Palmer Boothe (Charlotte deceased), 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. 

The family wishes to thank all her dedicated, loving caregivers she has been blessed with.

Graveside services will be January 29, 2018, 11:00 am at Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson, CA, followed by Memorial Services at Geneva Presbyterian Church, Modesto, CA.

In memory of Doris Wanty, please consider making a donation to Geneva Presbyterian Church, 1229 E Fairmont Ave., Modesto, CA 95350 or Nat'l WASP Museum, 210 Avenger Field Rd., Sweetwater, TX 79556.

respectfully edited and reposted:  www.cvobituaries.com

*Quote by Doris  from p480 "Out of the Blue and Into History" by WASP Betty Turner 

Margaret E. 'Marge' Neyman Martin, 44-7 | January 29, 2017

"When I heard about the WASP program, I decided I wanted to learn to fly, which meant cashing in my bonds and taking leave from work." 

                          Marge Neyman Martin, 44-7 

Margaret E. “Marge” Martin, long-time resident of Oak Harbor, passed away January 29, 2017.  She was 95. 

Marge was born September 21, 1921, in Saratoga, WA. to George and Elva Neyman.   She graduated from Sequim High School at age 16 in 1938.  After graduating business college in Tacoma, Washington, she began working as a secretary for Standard Oil Company.  

Learning of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) training program, she earned her private  pilot license in Spokane and applied to the program.  After passing the required tests and personal interview, Marge was accepted as a member of class 44-7, paying her way to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.  Of the 98 women who entered training with Marge, she was one of only 59 who graduated, September 8, 1944. 

She earned her silver WASP wings and received her Army orders, sending her to Douglas Army Air Field, Douglas, Arizona.  While at Douglas, WASP flew the BT-14, AT-8, UC-78, AT-9, AT-17 and B-25.  Marge's flying assignments included administrative, engineering and utility flights.

Following the deactivation of the WASP on December 20, 1944, Marge took a job in San Francisco where she met and married Paull Smyth.  They moved to Whidbey Island in 1951 where she later began her career at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.   The young couple started a family, making their home in Oak Harbor and filling it with four children and beautiful memories.  Marge later wrote:   "Our home on the water has nine acres with geese, chickens, and peacocks.  The Cascade Range fills our window with views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker, which are pure white in winter."

She worked at the Naval Air Station for 22 years, becoming secretary to the Commanding Officer before retiring.  

After Paull’s passing, Marge married C.J. “Tiny” Martin who predeceased her.  She is survived by her four children, Fred (Anita) Smyth, Oak Harbor; Gretchen Smyth, Seattle; Mitsi Vondrachek, Newberg, OR; and Paula (Dave) Bondo, Mill Creek, WA; as well as four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club.

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Respectfully posted with permission from her family.  Additional information included from Marge's entry p. 458, "Out of the Blue and Into History" by WASP Betty Turner.

WASP Leona Golbinec Zimmer, 44-W-2 Feb. 22, 2012

ZIMMER Leona Golbinec  Zimmer passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Orchard Villa in Oregon, Ohio.

She was born on August 16, 1920, the fourth child of Anna and Joseph Golbinec. She graduated from Rossford High School and then from Bowling Green State University.

In 1942 she volunteered and served as a *Women Airforce Service Pilot, a cadre of 1,074 women who ferried aircraft, tested the planes that had been damaged and then rebuilt, and trained male pilots. Though they were not considered to be in the military at the time, the WASP were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service and contribution to the World War II effort.

After the WASP disbanded Le returned to Rossford and taught at Eagle Point School. Her teaching career took her to California, to Hawaii, and then to Venezuela. There she taught the children of families working for Texaco and met and married an engineer, William (Bill) Zimmer.

They lived in Venezuela and Argentina until 1966, when Bill died suddenly. She returned to Rossford and worked for the Lucas County Department of Vital Statistics until her retirement in the 1970s.

As a retiree she volunteered as a Precinct Worker on election days, at WGTE (Toledo's PBS station), and at the VA hospital. She was active in the American Legion and served as president of the Legion's auxiliary.

She enjoyed traveling to the biannual WASP conventions as well as to Australia, Japan, Europe, and to visit family and friends all over the United States.

Leona's brothers, Joseph and Albert Golbinec; predeceased her. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Golbinec Cameron; her sister-in-law, Barbara Golbinec (Al); nieces; nephews, and cousins. The cousins especially want to recognize and thank Lee Wagner (Leona's namesake) for all her care, efforts, and attention to our Auntie Le.

Auntie Le had no children but she touched the lives of each niece and nephew and those of the many children in her classrooms. Le was an adventuresome spirit and a classy lady.

Family and friends may visit at the Sujkowski Funeral Home of Rossford, 830 Lime City Rd. on Sunday, February 26, 2012, from 1 to 4 p.m. where a prayer service will be held at 2 p.m. with Rev. Kent Kaufman officiating. Interment will be private.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Perrysburg Commons and Orchard Villa for all of the care and kindness shown to Leona. The family suggests that memorials be made to Heartland Hospice, P.O. Box 10086, Toledo, Ohio 43699. To leave an online message to the family please visit: www.sujkowskirossford.com

Reposted from the Toledo Blade, Feb. 24 to Feb 26, 2012

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WASP photo and the following text  respectfully added by Wings Across America
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* Leona was a member of WASP class 44-W-2 and, like all 112 trainees in her class, paid her own way to enter the Army Air Forces flight training program at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.  After seven months of flight training, she and 41 of her classmates graduated on March 13, 1944 and became WASP, Women Airforce Service Pilots.  

     Her official Army Air Force orders sent her to Napier Army Air Base in Dothan, Alabama, an advanced training base  for cadets.  At Napier, she would have flown At-6's as an engineering test pilot, making sure planes that had been 'red lined' were fit to fly.  She might also have ferried PT'17's and AT'6's and flown administrative missions.     She remained at Napier until the WASP were disbanded on December 20, 1944.  Like every woman pilot serving, she then paid her own way back home.

Leona's  participation as a WASP during World War II freed male pilots for combat duty and helped our country at a time when we were desperate for pilots.
    
      What a glorious legacy she leaves.

     Our thoughts and prayers are with her wonderful family and all of those whose lives she touched.

Nancy Parrish