Lieutenant Lucile Cavaneau 1915 - 1943

CAVAEAU

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/14/2023 at 14:12:10

The Goldenrod
Wayne, Nebraska
17 December 1943

FIRST WSTC WAC DIES IN TEXAS

Lieutenant Lucile Cavaneau Mapleton la. BA 1940 died Saturday in the Beach Brooke general hospital Fort Sam Houston, Texas shortly after a spinal operation. She was the first WSTC woman to enter the Women’s Army corps soon after its authorization two years ago. Last October word came of her promotion to a first lieutenancy.

Miss Cavaneau was born at Ida Grove, la. 1915. In 1933 she completed her high school work at the Mapleton Consolidated school from which she went to the Des Moines Business college completing a course there in 1935. At Wayne State she was active in many college groups and had part-time secretarial work downtown. She was a member of Sigma Tau Delta and majored in English. Before joining the WAC she was a private secretary to a member of the Omaha Executives association.

Two of her brothers are in the service, One is Darrell a private at Buckley Field, Colo., the other is First Lt. Winton Cavaneau, now in England.

Burial was in Mt Hope cemetery, Mapleton.

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Wichita Falls Time
Wichita Falls, Texas
14 December 1943

WAC Officer Dies

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 14 The body of First Lt. Lucille Cavanaau, 28, first member of the Woman’s Army Corps to die in this vicinity, was sent to Mapleton, Iowa last night with military escort, for burial. Lieutenant Cavaneau died at Brooke General Hospital after an illness of three weeks

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The Mapleton Press
16 December 1943

Lt. Cavaneau, 28, Dies Saturday in Texas Hospital

Military Services Today In Methodist Church for Mapleton WAC

First. Lt. Lucille Cavaneau, 28-year-old WAC, daughter of Mrs. Hazel Cavaneau of Mapleton, passed away at 1:30 o'clock p. m. Saturday at Beach Brooke General hospital at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Lt. Cavaneau was first hospitalized at the Station hospital at Randolph Field, Texas, and on December 6, she was moved to Fort Sam Houston hospital where she died from shock following an operation on the spine.

Funeral services were held this (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church, with Rev. George A. Osborn, pastor of the church officiating. Members of Loren Hollister Post of the American Legion were in charge of the military service at the church and at the graveside. Don Masters, spoke on behalf of The American Legion.

Mrs. Arthur Neubaum sang the 23rd Psalm and "Lead Kindly Light." with Max Werner as accompanist.

Burial was in Mount Hope cemetery under the direction of the Byers funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers were Gerald Kraft, Bery Graybill, James Baagoe, John Clubine, and Leon Ham, ex-service men of World War II and W. H. Thompson.

Six WAC of Des Moines served as honorary pallbearers.

Lucille Cavaneau was born June 20, 1915 at Ida Grove, la., to Mitchell and Hazel Cavaneau. She has made Mapleton her home for many years. Active in all school affairs, she graduated from the Mapleton High school with the Class of 1933. She was office secretary to the superintendent of the Mapleton schools for 3 years. In 1935 she attended Des Moines Business college. Attending Nebraska State Teachers college in Wayne, she was graduated from there May 21, 1910. She was a member of the National English society. Miss Cavaneau had held the position of private secretary in the Omaha Executives association in Omaha, Nebr.

She was the first Mapleton girl to enlist in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps more than a year ago. The organization is now known as the Women's Army Corps. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant at Fort DesMoines, March 16 of this year and received her promotion to 1st Lieutenant at Daytona Beach, Fla. in June. She was private secretary to General Faith, commanding officer of the WACa.

Surviving are her mother, and two brothers, Pvt. Darrell Cavaneau, who is attending a school for flight or ferry instructors at Buckley Field, Col., and Lt. Winston Cavaneau with the Army Air Corp's in Cambridge, England, and her grandmother, Mrs. E. J. Baker.

The body arrived in Omaha Wednesday and was accompanied by 1st Lt. Mildred J. Smathers of the WACs.

Chaplain McWilliams and several WACs from Fort Des Moines attended the military funeral services.

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The Des Moines Register
16 December 1943

WAC SERVICES AT MAPLETON

MAPLETON, IA.-- Military services for WAC First Lieutenant Lucile Cavaneau, 28, of Mapleton, were held at the Methodist church here Wednesday afternoon. Burial was in Mount Hope cemetery here.

Lieutenant Cavaneau died at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., last Saturday following an operation. She enlisted in the WAC soon after its organization and formerly was secretary to Gen. Don Faith, former commandant at Fort Des Moines.

Her father died in 1923 as a result of wounds suffered in World War I.

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San Angelo Evening Standard
14 December 1943
San Angelo, Texas

WAC's Body Sent Home

SAN ANTONIO-- Dec 14. The body of First Lt. Lucile Cavaneau, 28, first member of the Woman's Army Corps to die in this vicinity was sent to Mapleton, Iowa last night with military escort for burial. Lt Cavaneau died at Brooke General Hospital after an illness of three weeks.