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Damascus Thomas Speaks at EAA Meeting |
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In Memory of Martha Emily Metz Gile
Martha Emily Metz Gile took her last flight on November 18, 2008. Born to Fred Christian Metz and Martha Julia Fritz Metz on March 4, 1925. She was an aviator and native of Miami, Florida. Emily served with the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, class of 44-W-8. Emily Gile’s childhood and adolescence in Miami, Florida and her family's business in cows, chickens and turkeys during the Great Depression when her father was unable to find work in accounting. Determined to become a WASP, Gile was initially turned away because of her age, but earned her private license while working at the Army Air Corp base .On the day she turned eighteen and a half she hopped a military flight bound to Washington DC and was escorted to be interviewed at the Pentagon with Jacqueline Cochran who admitted her into the program. Gile completed her training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas graduating Oct 18th 1944. She was then stationed at Greenwood, Mississippi and ferried planes to different bases and tested repaired planes before they were returned to service. The WASP were deactivated in December of 1944. Emily Metz Gile then married and served in the Air Force Reserves until she became pregnant with her son. She then attended Concordia River Forest College to become a teacher for elementary children in parochial schools. Then Gile received her Masters in reading education at Appalachian State University. Gile then moved Hillsville, Va. to be a reading specialist for Carroll County Schools. After her retirement from teaching, she volunteered in so many ways. She was involved with many organizations including the American Association for Retired Persons serving as chairman for the retired teachers for years. Emily Gile was also a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Carroll County Retired Teachers, American Legion and the American Cancer Society, serving as relay captain for many years. She also believed that the children of Carroll Co. needed the opportunity to experience flight so she began the Young Eagles’ Program local EAA chapter. Emily Gile leaves her two children one son Emory Bearden of Hillsville, Va. one daughter and son in law Larry and Martha Musser and her three grandchildren Elizabeth, Caroline, and Sarah Musser of Winston-Salem, NC. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel at 2:00 PM with Marva Sandburg officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Hillsville V.F.W. Post 1115. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, November 21, 2008 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be in Quantico National Cemetery on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 2:00 PM. Donations may be made to W.A.S.P. Women Endowment Fund T.W.U. P.O. Box 425528 Denton, TX 76204 or the local EAA Chapter Young Eagles Program c/o Shirley Steele 681 Mt. Zion Road Woodlawn, VA 24381. Her spirit will live on as Twin County Chapter 1426 of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Young Eagles organization try to fulfill Emily's dream of promoting aviation by offering free airplane rides to children and sending needy kids to aviation camp in her memory. The organization extends deep sympathy to the family. |
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