WCCP members / USA veterans

On Nov 11, 2018 Sunday, Veterans Day, Stonebridge honored all its resident veterans. WCCP member Barbara Johnson’s husband, John, was honored for his navy service in WW2.   One of our WCCP members, Frieda Gilvarg, sailed in in her full WW2 WAVE uniform, much to everyone’s surprise and pleasure.  She was the hit of the afternoon, especially that she still has the uniform and it still fits. Frieda was one of the Club’s great originals. Elizabeth (Betty) Baran, a WCCP member, worked with Frieda at Burgdorff Realtors for several years but never knew Frieda had been in the military service.  Frieda passed away October 10, 2019.

There were two other College Club members who were US war veterans besides Frieda. Barbara Broad (passed away Dec 2019) and Gerry Bowers (she passed away Feb 2022); both served in the Navy.

Mary Frances Stahler is a former club member who has moved away to another state; she served in the Air Force.

These vibrant, funny, energetic women who served their country and this club deserve more than a salute. We all thank Frieda, Gerry, Barbara, and Frances for their services. 

Below are Barbara Johnson’s wonderful pictures of Frieda Gilvarg at the Stonebridge reception.   

Below: Photos of Gerry Bowers: provided by Gerry. Clockwise from top right: portrait drawing of Gerry; Gerry with her brother Curt Peterson to her right and her husband Fred to her left at the airport in Des Moines, Iowa; Gerry at Control Tower at Atlanta, Georgia; Gerry at Pensacola Florida in her white navy uniform.

Gerry Bower and daughter-in-law at the Sept 16, 2019 General Meeting.

Gerry celebrated a very happy 100^th birthday.  She was a past club president and remained an active member of our club to the very end; she passed away Feb 2022.

Below: photos provided by Mary Frances Stahler: right to left– Mary Frances Nagle, First Lieutenant serving with the US Air Force during the Bay of Pigs; her brother Arthur J. Nagle, Lieutenant serving with the US Navy during the Vietnam War.

Barbara Broad (passed away Dec 2019); joined the WAVES as an ensign, later serving as lieutenant at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Pearl Harbor.