Although born in Burbank, California October 14, 1921 Irma Story was relocated to Lancaster, California when her father was transferred to the Antelope Valley in October, 1922. She received all of her schooling in the local schools through Antelope Valley Junior College. She was the youngest of four children, two older brothers and a sister, and as she was named for her mother she was called "Baby Irma"—soon shortened to "Babe" and is called by this nickname to this day. During her very young years she was exposed to airplanes by her brother, Tom, through the countless balsa models of gliders, rubber band propelled airplanes, and even an autogiro. She had an unlimited supply of "show and tell" items which always ended with the statement. "Someday I will fly real airplanes!" Babe did all the things "air-struck" kids did—run to the airport when a barnstormer buzzed town hoping to earn a ride by throwing out advertising leaflets, running errands for the local mechanics, and washing planes or "gunking" engine parts, always the dirty messy jobs. It did pay off in occasional flights and always a special flight on her birthday.

Irma's dream of flying "real" airplanes was realized in 1941 as a participant in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) at the Antelope Valley Junior College and the Antelope Valley Flying Service owned by Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes. She received her private pilot's certificate in June, 1942 at age 19. With this in hand "Babe" went down to Vega Aircraft in Burbank to apply for a job—any job as long as it was building airplanes and allowed her to build up flying hours. Pearl Harbor stopped all civilian flying on the West Coast and "Babe" could not get east of the 150-mile barrier to continue flying.

In late 1942 the Women Pilot Program under the direction of Jacquelin Cochran for the Army Air Corps commenced training in Texas. By April 1943 "Babe" was accepted for Class 43-W-6 at Sweetwater, Texas. After graduation in October she was selected for special assignment and immediately reported to the Specialized 2-Engine Medium Bomber training facility at Dodge City, Kansas to train in the Martin B-26. The group assigned there were the first to fly large military airplanes and set a precedent for training women in a large majority of the Army Air Force (AAF) inventory. This first group graduated in December, 1943 as First Pilots and were assigned to Flexible Aerial Gunnery Schools towing targets for B-24s and student gunners. Irma was stationed at Harlingen, Texas until the Women Airforces Service Pilots (WASP) program was deactivated December 20, 1944.

Irma continued flying after WWII restrictions were lifted as an instructor in Pennsylvania and back to Lancaster, California in programs set up for returning GIs for approximately five years. As the student pool diminished "Babe" continued flying charter flights and instructing as well as managing the local Lancaster airport for a crop dusting company. This association led into learning the trade and flying skill required and she became a co-owner of A. V. Pest Control Company, Inc. and affiliated businesses, A. V. Aircraft Co. and A. V. Insecticide Co.

In 1959 Irma hung up the goggles and crash helmet for an "indoor" job which was flying for a corporation, her ultimate goal. She flew for an electrical contractor with office in New Orleans and Lancaster and jobs all over the U. S. She logged many pleasant hours in the beautiful Cessna 310B and can truthfully say, "I flew real planes."

With the demise of the electrical company and contacts made through them, Irma spent the next 32 years with a general contracting firm doing predominantly government construction such as test stands, space-launch facilities, hangars, runways, buildings of various uses, and many hospitals for the Army, Navy, and the Veterans Administration. Irma's job was described as being "unique" during her tenure as she was managing projects as the corporate representative and liaison officer between the field project managers and the contracting agency. It was a very satisfying career to end her working life. She now points with pride at these huge structures and can say, "I built that."