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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

After flying as navigator for her husband John for some time, it occurred to Edythe that it might be a good idea if she learned how to land the monster. In the process of so learning, the flying bug bit and resulted in producing a private license. As this training was at Cleveland airport, she indicated she was receiving the tower on the radio by waving her hand through the open canopy of the Ercoupe. Airplanes subsequently owned were Taylorcraft, Stinson Voyager and Beech Musketeer. Edy acquired instrument rating and commercial in 1970 and 1971.
Being of gregarious nature, she early on sought out women with similar interests, and in 1952 joined the 99s, then an international organization of about 1200 women pilots, which has expanded to several thousand. Some are now corporate pilots, airline pilots and astronauts.
In the 99s, she held several positions, such as chairman of the All-Ohio chapter, and served on various committees. She became a charter member of the Lake Erie Chapter in 1974. In the North Central Section, she was secretary, vice-governor and historian. In 1958-1960 she was president of the Cleveland Women's Chapter of the National Aeronautic Association. She promoted the organization of the Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter 99s in 1966, and has since been known as "godmother" of that affiliation. For some years she had been a member of the board of governors of the Western Reserve Aviation Hall of Fame in Cleveland, whose honorees were presented awards during the annual Cleveland National Air Shows.
She participated as pilot or co-pilot in numerous air races, including the Michigan SMALL and Indiana FAIR races and in the latter taking a first place. She has flown several Angel Derbies, including the 1979 50th Anniversary Commerative First Women's Air Derby from Santa Monica, CA to Cleveland OH. She flew in two T.A.R. (Powder Puff) races, and served as scorer, timer or judge for T.A.R.s, Angel Derbies, Lake Erie Air Derbies, Grand Prix Air Races, Air Race Classics, Michigan SMALL races and Buckeye Air Rallies. Edythe has won several honors, i.e. the All-Ohio Achievement Award in 1958 and 1966, and the Lake Erie Pilot-of-the-Year Award in 1975. In 1987 at the Dayton U.S. Air Force Museum she received the SILVER WINGS Woman-of-the-Year "Louise Thaden Memorial Award". She has flown for 40 years with 1400 pilot hours, and has flown widely in the U.S.A., Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas.
She has always been willing and able to use her extensive talents to promote aeronautic entities.