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Sue Matheis, continued:During her marriage to Richard Matheis (1946-1977), they had five children and lived in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri.

With curiosity as her compass, Sue adventures in aviation began in 1965 when she turned 40. Despite being a busy mother, she took an introductory flight lesson and was sky-hooked. From there, she earned her private and commercial pilot licenses and instrument rating. In 1975, she was the first woman to earn a Missouri commercial helicopter license and joined the Whirly-Girls.

She was active member of the St. Louis Chapter of Ninety-Nines. As Chairman, Sue hosted two major air shows, and flew right seat with the “Blond Knight of Germany,” Erich Hartman, known as the world’s greatest fighter pilot. Sue often said that flying was the challenge that allowed her to spread her wings, and the St. Louis Ninety-Nines were the friends and colleagues who made it all worthwhile.

From 1968-1974,Sue managed the popular Riverfront Trolley that gave happy, narrated tours of the St. Louis Riverfront/downtown area.

Later, she started flying the announcer for KMOX’s traffic watch, and soon after was reporting traffic herself, becoming known as “Sue in Copter Two.” She was Missouri’s first airborne woman traffic reporter and KMOX’s only female on-air personality at the time. This morphed into news reporting, covering local, national and world events which included interviewing Mother Teresa, five US presidents, royalty, astronauts, US military leaders, and more.

It also provided rare airborne experiences such as flying right seat in the replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis airplane; flying in and reporting from the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, including when her balloon set down in the Mississippi River; and flying with the French Connection aerobatic team..

In 1990, at age 65, Sue retired from radio-reporting. St. Louis County honored her, proclaiming March 8 as Sue Adieu Day. At age 93, she flew left seat one last time with a NASA/United Airlines pilot by her side.

Sue’s pioneering spirit was recognized in 1976 when she was the subject of a U.S. Information Agency film on American Women at Work, and in 1977 she was profiled in Harold Sherman's book, “How to Picture What You Want.” In 2003, Sue was one of several profiled in the “Women in Aviation” exhibit at the St. Louis Science Museum. Sue also bylined monthly articles for COMMERCE Magazine, focusing on women emerging into men's fields of work.

Always looking for new challenges, Sue began a new business, INSIGHT/IMPACT, which analyzed handwriting for purposes of personnel consulting, conflict resolution and forensic profiling. Later Sue co-founded Selecteam to help client-companies build winning workforces through handwriting analysis. She wrote monthly columns on handwriting analysis for a range of publications.

Sue initially studied hypnosis in 1960 as a means for having oral surgery without anesthetics. She later became interested in nutrition, especially the health benefits of glyconutrients. She became an educator and a distributor and remained actively engaged until she was 97 years old.

Living a long and purposeful life, Sue touched many with her friendship, kindness, graciousness, and love.

Her family notes that Mark Twain once said that the two most important days in one's life are the day you were born, and the day you discovered 'why." They say if you wish to honor Sue's memory, Sue asks that you please know your life has a purpose...and so, Just Do It!

Rita Wannebo, continued:She took full advantage of experiencing all that life had to offer, and she loved sharing stories of her life’s encounters. Rita was always a ray of sunshine everywhere she went. She always made everyone around her feel special and appreciated.

On January 6, 2025, Rita Wannebo left us at the age of was 93. Her passing was at her home, on her terms, with her son and friends, and couldn’t have been scripted any better.

Valérie André, continued:She flew 129 helicopter rescue missions and made two parachute jumps under combat conditions during the French-Indo China War in the early 1950s. She picked up critically wounded soldiers, fly them to a safe field hospital, and occasionally performed their life-saving surgery. MASH units were later based on her example.

She spent 33 years on active duty with the French Air Force and retired in 1981 to become France’s medical inspector general. She wrote two memoirs:Ici, Ventilateur! Extraits d'un carnet de vol. (Calmann-Lévy, 1954) andMadame le Général (Perrin, 1988).

More information about Dr. Valérie André can be foundhere.

Nancy Fitzroy, continued:She met Roland Victor Fitzroy, Jr. at General Electric, and they were married from 1951 until his death in 2004.

In 1986, she became the first female President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She received numerous awards for her achievements including the Achievement Award from the Society of Woman engineers, the Demers and Davies Medals from RPI, the Centennial Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Federal of Professional Women Award (1984). She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the RPI Hall of Fame (1999), and received an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from RPI and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

In 2019, the Admissions Building at RPI was renamed the Nancy Deloye Fitzroy, '49 and Roland V. Fitzroy, Jr. Admissions Building. The Nancy DeLoye Fitzroy and Roland V. Fitzroy Medal was established in 2011 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers to recognize pioneering contributions to the frontiers of engineering, leading to breakthroughs in existing technology or leading to a new application or new areas of engineering endeavors.

In addition to flying helicopters, Nancy also enjoyed sailing, golfing, skiing, and traveling with her husband. They owned a Cessna 310 twin-engine airplane, "Nancy's Fancy." Author David Campbell wrote a book about Nancy entitled "The Little Girl That Could Do Anything," which can be accessed at theTroy Book Makers website.More information about Nancy can be foundon her website.

June Davis, continued:After college, June founded a flight school at Palm Beach International Airport in her early 20's. A proud member of the Whirly-Girls and The 99s, she became an FAA examiner and won many international air races, including two first-place finishes in the Women's International Air Race and the Powder Puff Derby. She flew aircraft ranging from seaplanes to 727s, her favorite being the DC-3. She received the Amelia Earhart Award and was featured on To Tell The Truth, Good Morning America, and 60 minutes. Her aviation achievements are immortalized in the Smithsonian.

In addition to the brokerage business she founded with her husband, June had a passion for snow skiing, sailing (she held a US Coast Guard 100-ton Captain's license), and dog rescue work.

Her daughter, Antares, says her mother's life serves as a testament to the fact that with passion, audacity, and determination, the sky is not the limit, but just the beginning.

Jean Wilson, continued:Jean started her aviation career by learning to fly in a Piper PA11 airplane. Later, she owned a Hiller 360, with an overhead cyclic. When designer Stan Hiller heard she learned to fly on that aircraft, he sent her a model of the Hiller 360. She and Stan are pictured at left with her helicopter.

Jean performed a variety of tasks in helicopters over the course of her career: she was the first woman to fly a Sikorsky S-61; she flew the S-55 for ferry flights and in Vermont for a ski-lift job, carrying poles, cement, and equipment up the mountain, and stringing cables for chair lifts; she performed agricultural spraying flights; she carried Santa Claus and Christmas presents to hospitals; she ferried a Vertol to Burlington, Vermont. Her husband was one of the founders of Heliair Inc., and she later became a member of its Board of Directors. They had a heliport in their backyard. She also flew seaplanes.

She was one of the Whirly-Girls who met President Kennedy and later celebrated the organization's 10-year anniversary by having tea with Lady Bird Johnson at the White House.

Jean was also an active member of the American Cut Glass Association, the National American Glass Club, and the founder of the Philadelphia area chapter of the NEAGC. She loved outdoor activities and traveling, particularly to Alaska.

Danna Henderson, continued:Born on May 22, 1934, Danna graduated from Capitan High School in 1947 as class valedictorian and enrolled at the University of New Mexico. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in journalism and a minor in archaeology. Danna became a reporter on the Albuquerque Journal and learned to fly at the long-gone West Mesa Airport. In 1959, she went to Washington, D.C. as a research assistant to Sen. Clinton P. Anderson.

She married Jack Henderson in 1960, and their daughter Lisa was born in 1961.

Danna’s career as an aviation journalist spanned over 50 years:
- She became a reported for the Albuquerque Journal.
- She started as a reporter for Aviation Daily and then became managing editor of American Aviation.
- She worked on convention newspapers, beginning with one for NBAA, and in 1967 published the first (and last) bilingual Convention News at the Paris Air Show in collaboration with Air et Cosmos.
- In 1973, Danna joined Air Transport World (ATW) magazine as managing editor. She later became a contributing writer working on, among other things, the World Airline Report and the ATW Daily News.
- She also worked as a freelance journalist, working at Transpo ’72 for ALPA and AFA, and producing a newsletter for Indian tribes.

In the early 1960s, Danna got her helicopter pilot’s license and joined the Whirly-Girls. She and other charter members met President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

Danna participated for many years in Whirly-Girls board meetings as an advisor and guide, and was very involved with the website. She also loved horses and was a champion barrel racer as well as a Life Master in Bridge.

She and her childhood friend Claire worked on projects documenting the history of the Fort Stanton Marine Hospital and Children of Fort Stanton. In 2005, the two put together a fabulous reunion attended by more than 60 Fort Stanton Kids and their families. Danna wrote in the Fort Stanton newsletter about the history of the fort and the Fort Stanton Kids who lived there between the early 1920s and 1953.

She is survived by her daughter Lisa Ray, grandson Jesse Ray (wife Lauren), great granddaughter Riley Magnolia Allison Ray, and brother John Kusianovich.

Ruthanne Page, continued:Ruthanne’s 30-year commercial helicopter flying career included working for an oil company above the Artic Circle in Alaska and fighting forest fires in western Canada and the United States.

Not only was Ruthanne an intrepid and highly experienced commercial helicopter pilot who flew a variety of makes and models of helicopters, but she had other useful skills as well. She was extremely knowledgeable about avionics, aircraft maintenance, auto repair, and photography.

One time while visiting a Whirly-Girl friend in Boise, Idaho, Ruthanne’s truck was hit by another motorist and needed some body work done. She took it all in stride, contacted a local aircraft maintenance shop, and convinced the shop owner to allow her to use his hangar, tools, and paint room to repair her truck so she could drive it back home. Ruthanne made friends wherever she went.

One of Ruthanne’s lifelong passions was genealogy. In researching her Page family genealogy over the years, she became somewhat of an expert on Canadian military history. Ruthanne was a proud Canadian who also held U.S. citizenship later in life.

Ruthanne had a lifelong love of learning, and even as a senior citizen, she was taking college courses for credit to learn more about digital photography or more about the latest topic that caught her interest. Her annual Christmas letters to friends and family were often 13 or 14 pages long because she wanted to share detailed information and/or photographs about the things she was currently excited about.

Ruthanne had a remarkable love for life, and she will be missed by all her knew her.

Lora Trout, continued:Working underneath and flying as a passenger during fire seasons is how Lora decided to become a pilot. She obtained all of her helicopter ratings in between fire seasons and flew tours before accepting a CFI and tour pilot position in Dallas, Texas. She was also the recipient of a number of scholarships through the Whirly-Girls:the 2021 Robinson R22/R44 Scholarship, the 2022 Garmin GTN & 500/600 Scholarship, Garmin GTN Essentials 2.0 eLearning Course Scholarship, Garmin G1000H NXi Fundamentals eLearning Course Scholarship, Garmin G1000H NXi Advanced-IFR eLearning Course Scholarship, and the2022 Robinson R66 Scholarship.

Lora was grateful to participate on the Whirly-Girls Board of Directors as the Director of Media. She promoted the achievements of female pilots and highlighted those working toward their ratings, advertising both their successes and their struggles, showing any woman that she is capable of achieving her dreams of pursuing a pilot career. Lora also enjoyed fly fishing, weight lifting, paddle boarding, and kayaking.

Tragically, on March 25, 2022, Lora perished in a helicopter crash with her student, Ty Wallis. A celebration of her life was held on April 23, 2022.

Hazel Smothers, continued:Hazel was a restauranteur, developer of a mini shopping center, and the successful owner-operator of a deli-liquor store. In the 1960’s, Hazel earned her private pilot certificate, her multi-engine commercial certificate, and then her helicopter rating, joining the Whirly-Girls. She was also a volunteer for the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department and assisted in many of their search and rescue operations.

In June 1969, she raced across the country in the Powder Puff Derby in her Cessna 172 with Wanda Ewing. They won first prize in their class. Hazel married Bob Smothers in 1986. Together they traveled the world: Spain, Russia, Europe, and much of Asia. They loved to dance and won prizes for jitterbug and big band swing. Hazel also took up tennis, skiing, and sailing, and loved the beach, finding and saving shells. She was a volunteer at Scripps Clinic and a member of several La Jolla women’s clubs. She was well-known for her smile.

Hazel turned over most of her papers related to her flying accomplishments to the San Diego Air and Space Museum where they are available for viewing by the public. She died on June 1, 2020.

Adapted from theobituary published by La Jolla Light on June 18, 2020.

Jessica Brandal, continued:At the end of her six-year enlistment, after receiving the Air Force Achievement Medal and being awarded as the Cryptologic Language Analyst Mentor of the Year, she decided to make a career change and leapt out of the military right into helicopter pilot training. She obtained her private, instrument, commercial, CFI and CFII ratings and started working for Dodge City Community College in Chandler, Arizona as a flight instructor. She enjoyed teaching while building flight hours and considered it an honor to join the Whirly-Girls. Her ultimate goal was to work in firefighting or in conservation.

On October 1, 2021, Jessica and her student, Michael Papendick, experienced a mid-air collision with a Piper PA-28 airplane. The two in the airplane landed safely, but Jessica and Michael tragically perished in the crash. Jessica was 27. Her mother, Jennifer, asks for prayers for the family.

Virginia Seibel, continued:On June 17, 2021, Virginia was flying her 6-year-old granddaughter, Elise Lowrance, from Montana to California in her Piper airplane for a family celebration. Tragically, they both perished in a crash in the Deseret Peak Wilderness in Utah. The crash started the Morgan County Fire which burned over 500 acres.

Virginia’s daughter, Alexandra, describes Virginia and Elise: “They just were the most full of life people I’ve ever met and I think they would want everyone to just hold each other, to love each other, to put their phones down and go play with each other. I think they were wonderful, wonderful people that I want everyone to know. And I know they don’t have the opportunity to know them now, but those qualities were amazing and I want people to know that’s what they were like.”

Our hearts go out to their family. You canread more about Virginia Seigel here.

Maria Rodriguez, continued:They moved to St. Thomas, and she taught while raising two children. She then flew commercially with Air Center Helicopters and retrieved drones from the ocean for the US Navy. She also completed more than 1,000 skydiving jumps.

In 2011, Maria founded Caribbean Buzz, a helicopter company featuring yellow helicopters painted with smiley faces. Her company flew tourists – including Michelle and Barack Obama — as well as Easter egg drops, relief missions, emergency evacuations, search and rescue flights, and supply drops as needed. She also provided services for the disadvantaged and helped Santa Claus with his deliveries.

In addition to performing relief flights during hurricanes Irma and Maria, she also documented the damage to that area, and her photos were instrumental in conveying the devastation suffered by the region. It’s her dedication and heroism during these hurricanes that led to Helicopter Association International recognizing her as the 2018 pilot of the year.

Maria excelled in both her professional and personal worlds, approaching all things with fierce love and passion, whether that was with her family, her community, or her flying. And she did it all with grace, ease, and the trademark Caribbean Buzz smile on her face.

On February 15, 2021, Maria and her 3 passengers tragically died in a helicopter accident in St. Thomas. Her family has established the Maria Rodriguez Foundation at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands to serve the youth of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

For more information about Maria and to contribute to her foundation, please go tohttps://cfvi.net/maria-rodriguez-foundation/

Bev Vetter, continued:In addition, Bev stored our Whirly-Girls sales merchandise, worked as a cashier in our HELI-EXPO merchandise booth, and made all the table decorations for our annual scholarship banquet for many, many years. Bev was very artistic and loved to do craft projects and sew aviation-themed tote bags.

Bev and her late husband Bob (both pictured at left) had a private airstrip on their property called Vetter Sky Ranch. They owned two airplanes and an Enstrom helicopter. Bev and Bob were always happy to have a Whirly-Girl drop by for coffee or for an overnight stay.

Bev’s personal involvement and contributions to the Whirly-Girls organization over the years cannot be overstated. She loved the Whirly-Girls, and we loved her. Bev will be greatly missed by those who knew her.

Judith Stanton, continued:Judith was the 2008 recipient of the Northeast Helicopters Flight Services Scholarship through the Whirly-Girls. She had many other interests including synchronized swimming and trick water skiing, and was a Volunteer Usher for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for many years. She passed away on April 27, 2019. Her obituary may be viewedhere.

Krista Holstrom, continued:Krista earned her helicopter private certificate in 2007 and joined the Whirly-Girls in 2010. Her talent for merchandise was quickly apparent, and after working with WG#465 Bev Haug-Schaffter in the merchandise booth at HELI-EXPO, she was elected as Vice President of Merchandise and held the position between 2013 and 2019.

Krista received theSurvival Systems USA Aircraft Ditching Course Scholarship in 2012, the ForeFlight Pro Plus Subscription and Training Scholarship in 2018, and theThurn-Herr Annual Advanced Training Scholarship in 2019, all through the Whirly-Girls. She was a runner up in the Jerry Trimble Helicopters Touchdown Autorotation Contest and volunteered at the Reno Air Races as well as at the airport during Burning Man. She was a huge fan of the Erickson Aircrane and aspired to work for the company, flying the Aircrane in utility work. In addition to helicopters, she learned to fly airplanes, including tailwheels, and worked at Iasco Flight Training, and later at Air Shasta Rotor & Wing. As an instructor, Krista provided free ground school for women.

Her buoyant spirit and charisma were well-known, and she was the life of the party. Her arms were the canvas for a range of tattoos which were created by her cousin, Dylon Sandstrom, and held great meaning to her, including a Whirly-Girl helicopter with diamond eyes. She also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and hanging out with family, friends, and her dogs.

Krista and her partner, Kevin Fore, often flew together in the Northwest in their Piper PA-14 airplane, N91449. Kevin, owner of Palo Cedro Heating and Air, was also an enthusiastic pilot.

On August 15, 2020, Krista and Kevin tragically perished in their airplane in an accident in Susanville, California. A celebration of life was held in their honor in Redding, California.

Jerrie Cobb, continued:Jerrie worked as an international ferry pilot delivering USAF military fighters and bombers to countries around the world in her early 20s. She later set four world aviation records for speed and distance, and two for altitude.

In 1959, Jerrie was selected as the first woman to undergo astronaut selection tests. She passed all three phases of the grueling tests but was not allowed to fly into space because of her gender. Among her many awards and honors were the Amelia Earhart Gold Medal of Achievement, Pilot of the Year by the National Pilots Association, Captain of Achievement by the International Academy of Achievement, and the Bishop Wright Air Industry Award for “humanitarian contributions to modem aviation.” She also was awarded the Harmon Trophy as the world’s best woman pilot by President Nixon at age 42, and inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2000. Her book Jerrie Cobb, Solo Pilot, published in 1997, details her flying adventures.

Jerrie earned her helicopter rating on February 12, 1965 and was best known for spending much of her life flying in the Amazon supporting humanitarian purposes. She died at the age of 88. You canread more about her life in the Houston Chronicle.

Shannon Smith, continued:Shannon joined the US Navy as an aviation electronics technician and QA inspector. After her deployment, she left the military and worked as a Lead Calibration Technician. She was responsible for New England region calibration for all FAA locations, including airports and radar sites. She used her GI bill for flight school, and landed an internship at Gulf Coast Helicopters, which included acting as PIC during pipeline patrol. She also attended Embry-Riddle University.

Shannon received many awards for achievement, including being an Honor Graduate at the Center for Naval Aviation, the Casey Clark Memorial Internship at Gulf Coast Helicopters, and the Women of Excellence Award from Embry-Riddle.

She was also selected to receive the 2019 Survival Systems USA scholarship from the Whirly-Girls, but at age 26, her life was tragically cut short in a vehicle accident in January 2019.

Shannon aspired to be a gold seal instructor and mentor and always encouraged people to reach out and take hold of their dreams.

Ethel Sheffler, continued:After taking her first flying lesson in an airplane on July 23, 1942, Ethel amassed a total of 173 flight hours by the time she was accepted for training by the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in December 1943. After seven months of training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, Ethel received her WASP wings (44-W-5), and went on to log 500 flight hours in the next year flying BT-13s, AT-6s, AT-10s, and UC-78s.

When the WASP disbanded in December 1944, Ethel continued flying as a flight instructor and charter pilot in Illinois, New Jersey, and Tennessee.

In 1950, Ethel met Ira Sheffler on a blind date while visiting friends in Brazil. They were soon married and lived in Brazil for several years before returning to New Jersey.

Ethel learned to fly helicopters in the mid-1950s and became a charter member of the Whirly-Girls. She was the seventh woman in the world to earn a helicopter rating.

While taking some time off from flying to start a family, Ethel soon realized how much she missed flying. By 1960, Ethel returned full time to aviation as a chief pilot and flight instructor. By the time her three daughters (Sue, Sandy, and Linda) were old enough, she made sure they each learned to fly and obtain a pilot’s certificate before obtaining a driver’s license.

By the time Ethel retired as a flight instructor at age 83, she had accumulated over 25,600 hours, had flown in 49 states in the US, and traveled to all seven continents.

Ethel passed away in Appleton, Wisconsin on June 5, 2018, surrounded by family.

More information about Ethel Louise Jones Sheffler’s life can be found at the following:

https://waspfinalflight.blogspot.com/2018/06/ethel-louise-jones-sheffler-44-w-5-june.html

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postcrescent/obituary.aspx?n=ethel-louise-jones-sheffler&pid=189243819

Hazel Smothers, continued:During Fran’s long and varied career, she logged over 25,000 flight hours while ferrying surplus aircraft after World War II, flight instructing, running her own flight school, and flying as an experimental test pilot. At age 23, Fran became the youngest, and one of the first, female designated pilot examiners, but she could not begin giving flight tests until after turning 24, which was the minimum age at the time. For many years, Fran also was a sales and demonstration pilot for Beech and Piper Aircraft. She is credited with naming the popular Beechcraft Duchess airplane.

When asked about discrimination in the male dominated world of aviation, Fran said, “I was having so much fun getting paid for what I loved to do that I didn’t realize that I wasn’t ‘liberated.’”

Fran’s passion was air racing. She had been an avid air racer since the 1950s and was one of the sport’s “winningest” pilots. Fran flew the All-Women’s Transcontinental Air Race, nicknamed the “Power Puff Derby,” 20 times and won it a record seven times, placed six times, and showed four times. She also won, placed, or showed in 14 consecutive Palms to Pines Air Races. Fran successfully flew in the International Women’s Air Race, the National Championship Air Races in Reno, and the Great Race from London, England, to Victoria, British Columbia. Her numerous honors include the prestigious 2011 Katherine Wright Award from the National Aeronautics Association.

In 1993, Fran flew her Piper Cherokee 235 to Siberia “just for the fun of it.” Later, she traded her Cherokee for a Piper Comanche 260B because, she explained, “I’m getting older and need to get places faster.” Fran also completed a Citation Jet type rating as a 70th birthday present to herself. Fran often quipped, “I’m going to wear out, not rust out.”

Fran passed away on February 16, 2018, in San Diego, California. All who knew Fran loved and admired her not only for her flying skills and lifelong passion for aviation, but also for her quick wit and ability to have fun no matter where she was or whom she was with.

Wini Gronvold, continued:Soon after they were married, Robert was killed in a helicopter crash, but that didn’t stop Wini from enrolling for helicopter flight training at Aetna Helicopters, Inc., in Etna, California. Wini already held a private pilot certificate for airplanes when she became a rated helicopter pilot on August 21, 1957.

As a civilian, Wini continued to work as a nurse in the Los Angeles area while also serving as vice president of the K. Rogers Aircraft Corporation in Lakewood, California, where a new type of helicopter was being developed.

In her last years, Wini resided at the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, New Jersey. Wini proudly served in the Army Nurse Corps Reserves, where she held the rank of Captain.

Hazel Smothers, continued:Jean began flying fixed-wing aircraft in 1945, balloons in 1961, and helicopters in 1965. She was the first woman to be rated in constant speed prop gyroplanes in 1976. She was deeply involved with the Whirly-Girls, acting as Scholarship Chairman, International Secretary, Executive Director (for 12 years), and then Executive Director Emeritus. She received the Livingston Award for lifetime achievement in 1994. She is also included in the book, Hovering: The History of the Whirly-Girls, International Women Helicopter Pilots.

Jean was involved in many aviation organizations, serving on the Boards of Directors for the San Francisco Aeronautical Society, the Hiller Aviation Museum, and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) as well as the Whirly-Girls. She played major roles in the Helicopter Club of America (HCA), the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Western Aerospace Museum at the Oakland International Airport, and was a chairman of the Bay Cities Chapter of the Ninety-Nines. She was a US representative to the International Rotorcraft Commission (CIG) and a member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, City of London. And she was designated by the FAA as a Written Test Examiner and an Accident Prevention Counselor.

One of Jean’s proudest moments came in July 1973 when she was one of six women helicopter pilots on the United States competition team in the second World Helicopter Championships in England. She then acted as a US judge or chief judge for later world championship competitions. After competing in 1978, she worked diligently to found the Helicopter Club of America (HCA), and became the first woman president of the HCA.

In March 1990, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) requested Jean to be one of the designated officials to observe and report on the XV-15 tilt-rotor program test flights when the tilt-rotor qualified for world record status. Jean was determined to fly the XV-15 after watching it perform. She became the first woman to pilot the tilt-rotor on April 12, 1990.Jean received numerous awards, including the Bell Helicopter Textron Award for being the first woman to pilot the XV-15 tilt-rotor (1990), the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of California (1991), the NAA Elder Statesman of Aviation Award (1996), and in 1998, she was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship, a memorial dedicated to notable women and men in aviation and space exploration. She worked throughout her life to champion safety and advance women in aviation.

Jean died on April 26, 2017 at age 90.

Hazel Smothers, continued:Her flying became a source of conflict between her and her first husband, and they divorced. She later married Robert Lockness, and they were married for 52 years until his death.

Doris worked as a Liaison Engineer on the C-4 in World War II, and then flew airplanes as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). After the war, she worked as a flight instructor, performed sightseeing flights, and participated in air shows around the country in her “Swamp Angel,” a Vultee-Stinson warbird.

All in all, she owned nine planes, and flew seaplanes, gyroplanes, hot-air balloons, and gliders as well as helicopters.

An aviation pioneer and strong advocate for women who fly, Doris was the 1996 recipient the Livingston Award from the Whirly-Girls. The OX-5 Pioneers presented Doris with the Legion of Merit Award, the Pioneer Women’s Award, and entered her in the Pioneer Hall of Fame. She received a certificate of honor from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the Elder Statesman of Aviation Award, and the Katherine Wright Memorial Award. Women in Aviation International included Doris as one of the 100 most influential women in aviation.

More information about Doris may be found here.

Sparkie Cannon, continued:Sparkie attended Bennett College in Millbrook, NY and enjoyed travelling and gardening. During the years her family spent in Honolulu, Sparkie developed a love for the islands' flowers and a deep appreciation for Asian art and culture.

After earning her helicopter pilot certificate and becoming a Whirly-Girl, Sparkie flew Arnold Palmer, the winner of the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, from Stapleton Airport to PGA headquarters in Cherry Creek.

Sparkie married Brown Woodburn Cannon in 1941 and raised three sons. Her business interests included Denver's first spa, aviation and agricultural pursuits in Wyoming, and gold mining. She was involved in a number of civic organizations in Denver, including the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the Denver Debutante Ball. The role she esteemed most, however, was that of wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Sparkie Cannon was survived by her sister LeBurta Gates Atherton, her sons Brown Woodburn Cannon, Charles Gates Cannon and Reynolds Gates Cannon, her daughter-in-laws Mardi Cannon and Maureen Cannon, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nancy Martin, continued:In the 1960's, she added commercial glider and helicopter ratings and joined the Whirly-Girls. She owned two Cessna airplanes and kept her CFII current most of her life. She wrote articles for aviation magazines, periodicals, and published a short story in The New Yorker.

In 1980 at the age of 59, she graduated from Georgetown University and in 1981 earned her MS in the School of Languages in Arabic because she said it was the only under-enrolled course with space.

Nancy was a voracious reader and collected Italian, Spanish and German literature. She donated her collection of rare aviation books to the Beinecke Library at Yale and other institutions in her late husband's memory. She traveled widely, loved animals, and played tennis into her 93rd year.

Nancy gave her time and support to many charitable causes. She was devoted and generous to her friends and family.

Helen Jost, continued:Besides being a Whirly-Girl and an early member of the 99s, she worked in a variety of contract jobs at a time when women helicopter pilots were rare: sightseeing tours off the Pan Am building in New York City and in the Hudson Valley; traffic reporting; powerline patrol; spotting fires for the Hudson Valley Fire Patrol; crop dusting; offshore transport to oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. She was the first to fly a sick child to Boston Children's Hospital before medical flights were established, and for fun she enjoyed flying Santa to the mall at Christmastime.

Helen was invited on the "What's MY Line" TV show where her answers stumped the panel. Ms Magazine covered her in a full magazine article. She also started her autobiography, "Skirts A Flying.” Her daughter, Aleta, continued her work using her mother’s scrap book and 40 years of diaries as a guide.

She was married first to the late Frederick Beltzer and second to the late Robert Jost, and had two children: Aleta and David. She will be greatly missed as an inspirational person, friend to so many, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her favorite quote was "Nothing ever stays the same.”

Jane Hart, continued:She raised 8 children, worked for equal rights, and was an aviation pioneer as the first woman in Michigan licensed as a helicopter pilot, flying her husband to campaign events in a helicopter. She was also one of 13 women who passed an astronaut screening test.You can read more about her here.

Marge Gorman, continued:She was a past president of the Mansfield Aviation Club, and a member of the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots.

The daughter of Jessie and Carrie Smith Newcomer, she was survived by her husband of 65 years, James Gorman; her son, Jeff (Shellie) Gorman; daughter, WG#293 Gayle Gorman Green (Rich); her sister, France Harned; and grandchildren plus many nieces and nephews.

Joyce Failing, continued:In addition to the Whirly-Girls, she was also a member of the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots. Joyce obtained her pilot license at a very young age and volunteered her flying services during wartime.

She also made significant contributions to the Failing family business, Bun Boy Restaurants, headquartered in Baker, California. She was survived by her daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, and many other relatives.

Amber Lowery, continued:Michael Lowery, her husband, was arrested for the murder of his wife. Her remains were found on their property in Comanche County, Texas.

More information about Amber can be found on the Find Amber Lowery Facebook page. The Whirly-Girls community sends its love and support to Amber’s family and friends in the face of this terrible tragedy.

Gale Brownlee, continued:She later pursued a career as a photographer and runway model, performer in TV commercials, and designer with her own label. She became a commercial pilot at the Kingston Airport and worked as an instructor as well as flying fire watch over the mountains. She joined the 99s, flew in races in the Powder Puff Derby, became a Whirly-Girl, and ferried a plane as co-pilot to Nairobi, Africa. She was also an associate broker in real estate.

Gale worked to establish the first hospice in Kingston with Sister Mary Charles of the Benedictine Hospital. She proposed a heliport at the Benedictine Hospital, and as chairman of the helipad fund, saw it built. When Central Hudson tried to push forward a plan for a coal burning power plant with tall smoke stacks, she was able to arouse enough support to stop the project.

She was survived by her daughter, Ardis (Pixie) Brown, her sisters, Pam Marvin and Ellen Katz and her brother, James Feeley and wife Sue, and a large extended family.

Dora McKeon, continued:Dora was a licensed psychologist in Texas, a founding fellow of the Human Factors Society of America, and a member of numerous psychology, aviation, and philanthropic organizations. Her family anticipates final interment at Arlington Cemetery in Spring 2014.

Barbara Remlinger, continued:Barbara, who was already a fixed wing pilot, learned many of her flying skills in confined operations and high risk landings from her husband. She even mused about their soft spot for stray animals, noting that they often flew a homeless cat or dog home. The two were known among friends and colleagues as “the helicopter pilots” as well as being champions of air medical transport throughout Nevada.

She provided heart services throughout the Southwest area, transporting patients frequently to the Carson-Tahoe Hospital from areas as remote as Needles Hospital, CA, Bullhead City Community Hospital (AZ), St. George Hospital (UT), and Pahrump (NV), using her own Hughes 500C aircraft. Barbara closed her practice to care for her ailing husband who predeceased her.

Mary Raub, continued:Mary worked as a flight instructor at the former Fairview Airport prior to becoming the co-owner and manager of the former Erie Institute of Aeronautics, a large flight training school at the former Kearsarge air-port. An extensive fire destroyed the buildings and closed the school in 1948. She was also the owner and operator of Erie’s Copter Service.

Mary was the first woman helicopter instructor for the U.S. Army at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. She was an FAA Inspector and an accident and violations specialist. She worked on the National Transportation Safety Board as the group chairman on major aircraft accidents. She retired from the NTSB and returned to Erie, Virginia in 1987.

Ruby Sheldon, continued:She also was an organizer of the Air Race Classic in which she flew 22 times, winning three times and last participating in 2005 at the age of 92. She flew in the Powder Puff Derby three times and did volunteer flying for the American Red Cross. She was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009 and also was honored in an exhibit in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Karen Johnson, continued:She was also deeply involved a number of other aviation organizations, including the Ventura County Ninety-Nines, and was the Chair upon her death. She was elected the 2012 Ventura County Ninety-Nines’ Woman Pilot of the Year.

In addition to her rotorcraft work for San Joaquin Helicopters, she enjoyed flying a Cessna Citation Jet for corporate work and was working on expanding her aviation career into the motion picture industry.

Karen was survived by her mother Bernice Phelps, her brother Timothy Phelps, her sister Shari Phelps, her nephew Joshua Phelps, and her niece Jessica Phelps.

Evelyn Johnson, continued:She later sold Cessna airplanes, participated in races across the US, wrote about aviation, and was named flight instructor of the year in 1979 by the FAA. She received the Livingston Award from the Whirly-Girls in 2004 and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007.

Nicknamed “Mama Bird,” she was the oldest flight instructor in the world at the age of 92, and taught until 95. The loss of a leg combined with glaucoma ended her flying career, but she continued to manage a local airport even after her 100th birthday.

Edna Sanroma, continued:As a licensed radiation physicist for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, she was a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and taught at Northeastern University while giving lectures at numerous other institutions. She was also a real estate broker, had a successful Teddy Bear mail order business, and was a member of the Bristol Yacht Club.

Her husband took care of her during her 27-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Betty Pfister, continued:In the early seventies, she became a member of the United States Helicopter Team. Her team represented the US in the World Helicopter Championships in both England and Russia. She bought a little Bell 47-G helicopter and had it painted to resemble a pink, yellow and orange butterfly. She named it Tinker Bell. She used to say she’d rather fly an hour in a helicopter than 100 hours in an airplane. Owning and flying that helicopter, if only for several years, was one of the highlights of her life.

The National Women’s Pilot Association, also known as the 99’s, counted Betty as a member since 1947. She organized the Aspen chapter in 1981. In 1992, she was awarded the Katherine Wright Memorial Award. She was honored with the Elder Statesman of Aviation Award by the National AeronauticAssociation in Washington, D.C. in 1994.

In 1995, she received the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Rotorcraft Gold Medal for her outstanding contributions to national and international helicopter flight. She was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in 1984. Betty held qualifications in more than twenty-five airplanes and helicopters.

In the late nineties, she offered local high school age children scholarships to flight school. She also sent several kids to Space Camp and once took a group to flight school in Florida herself. She organized Pitkin County Air Rescue in Colorado and was instrumental in developing a heliport at Aspen Valley Hospital.

Lorna deBlicquy, continued:She found flying jobs hard to come by in the 1950’s in Canada as most employers would not hire “girl pilots,” but through perseverance she earned licenses for private glider, commercial helicopter, and single, multi, land, sea, and DC-3. She worked for Canadian Airline Transport Canada as the first female Civil Aviation Flight Test Inspector and was Canada’s first “high latitude pilot,” becoming the first woman to reach the North Pole.

Lorna wrote a guest editorial in 1974 in “Canadian Flight” protesting the discrimination against women pilots by Crown Corporation Air Transit. The article attracted national attention in the media and contributed to the improved climate which now ensures women a place in the cockpits of Canada’s major airlines. When Canada endorsed ICAO’s position that pregnancy is a disease, and thus automatically downgraded a pilot’s medical category, DeBlicquy served on a Canadian committee on pregnancy related to pilots’ medical standards. As a result, some leniency on the loss of a category I medical classification during pregnancy has been granted to working women pilots.

She had a total of 10,000 flying hours, more than half of them earned through flight instructing. She inspired and guided many female aviators, and she will be missed.

Barbara Krauss Robinson, continued:After retiring, she devoted herself to her family and enjoyed planning adventures and world travels for her family and friends. Her son Mark and daughter Cindy were her greatest joy.

Because of her experience with breast cancer, Barbara founded the Barbara K. Robinson Breast Cancer Research Foundation and generously supported other cancer organizations. Barbara opened a women’s clothing store in Hermosa Beach and named it p.i.n.k., an acronym for “People inspiring new knowledge,” with the hope of mining positivity from her cancer battle. All profits from the store went to cancer research. The store later closed in 2008, but her efforts in preserving the 1920s Craftsman-style home at 238 Pier Ave. earned Robinson commendations from the city as well as the Hermosa Beach Historical Society.

On August 13, 2009, Barbara passed peacefully in her home surrounded by the love and care of her family.

Maria Elena Sanchez Keran, continued:She worked in various aviation positions throughout her career, beginning with an internship to the NASA Ames Research Center near Mountainview, California, in 1976. As a mechanic she worked for Western Airlines in San Francisco as part of a B-720, B-727, and B-737 service check crew. From February of 1979 to June of 1979 she worked as a technical writer for the Vought Corporation in Dallas, Texas, writing flight manuals for the A-7II Corsair; from June of 1979 to January of 1981 she worked as an instrument flight instructor and ATP ground instructor for the Jet Fleet Corporation in Dallas, Texas; and from February of 1981 to 1985 she worked as an instrument instructor and helicopter pilot for Tenneco, Inc., in Houston, Texas. Her other aviation teaching experiences included giving vocational-training aviation lectures for Sterling High School in Houston, Texas, and providing helicopter ATP/IFR ground schools for the Helicopter Operators of Texas.

She provided helicopter ATP/IFR ground/flight instruction and IFR refresher training for several corporations and agencies including the Augusta Aviation Corporation (Pennsylvania), MBB Helicopter Corporation (Pennsylvania), Executive Air Fleet (New Jersey), Allison Gas Turbine Flight Test (Indiana), Medi-Flight Operations (California), the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Maryland State Police. She was also a member of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) faculty for the annual HAI-CFI Refresher Clinics from 1984 through 1989.

Following her marriage to Gary Keran in 1985, her teaching took on yet another scope – home schooling her four children. She continued to keep her pilot ratings current in addition to enjoying her many hobbies, some of which included golf, cooking, gardening, pencil sketching, calligraphy, and ham radio – all of which she passed on to her family. An avid supporter of music, she was a board member of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra from 2006 to 2008.

Charlotte Kelley, continued:Charlotte was on the United States Helicopter Team in World Competition, beginning in Russia in 1978 and three additional Competitions. She went on to become a Judge of the FAI in World Competition, and most recently, she had been actively involved in the Scholarship Program for the Whirly Girls Organization.

She will be missed by those in aeronautics, as well as her family, Brian, her son, Melanie, her daughter, and her four grandchildren.

Keiko Minakata, continued:In addition to living her dream as a helicopter pilot, Keiko was also very involved in volunteer efforts to encourage women to pursue aviation as a career. As a Whirly-Girl, she regularly met with ladies interested in learning to fly helicopters and also volunteered her time annually at the American Heroes Air Show, a helicopter-only event held at the Museum of Flight.

Keiko passed away Aug. 2, 2007 in a helicopter crash in the Cascade Mountains just south of Easton, Washington. She was flying a Robinson R44 on a charter flight, carrying three passengers for her employer, Classic Helicopter Corporation of Seattle, Washington. Keiko was a 2007 International Whirly-Girls Scholarship winner. She had intended to use to gain factory training on the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter to further her experience, skill and safety consciousness. Sadly, she did not have the opportunity to use it. The Advanced Mountain Flight Training Scholarship was established in her honor.

Dee Fulk, continued:In Southwest Florida, Dee made a huge contribution to the environment through her work with the Sanibel and Captiva turtle conservation program, which she led for many years. She wrote a weekly column on nature for the local newspaper.

Joanna Gollin, WG #914, wrote, “Dee will be missed so much by all her many friends and of course her family. Anyone who ever had the good fortune to meet her had their life enriched through the experience. She radiated goodness, caring, kindness and a love of life and wildlife which was an inspiration, and she also had a special quiet dignity that was all her own. In her obituary (Dec. 15) the newspaper the Islander wrote, ‘The world and Sanibel have suffered a great loss with Dee’s passing.'”