Former WAFs Recall Those Uniforms
[excerpt]
Women in the Air Force are 20 years old, and they're celebrating with a new uniform designed by Harry Gilbert of Chicago.
Noting the attractive change in dress with interest are two Davenporters, Miss Venona McGuire, DeWitt and Mrs. George A. State, Davenport, who served with the Army Nurse Corps and the WAFS, respectively.
Miss McGuire, who is director of nursing at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, retired from the Nursing Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service. The recipient of several medals, including the Bronze Star, she served seven years in the southwest Pacific and Germany, had a year's duty on board ship and was stationed at various hospitals throughout the country.
Her uniform was the same as worn by the WACs.
Source: Quad City Times, July 1, 1968 (photo included)
Venona McGuire - Obituary
DeWitt, Iowa -- Service for Venona McGuire, 84, will be 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, DeWitt. Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Graveside military rites will be conducted.
Miss McGuire died Sunday at Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport.
Nelson Funeral Home, DeWitt, is in charge of the arrangements.
She began a nursing career in 1932 and joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1941 as a second lieutenant. She served in Australia, the Philippines and the Southwest Pacific. After the war, she was assigned to Army transport duty and served on ships sailing the Atlantic and Pacific. She retired in 1950 as a lieutenant colonel.
She later worked at St. Joseph Hospital, Tucson, Ariz., and the joined the administrative staff at the former Mercy Hospital, Davenport. She retired from there in 1976.
Miss McGuire was a member of St. Joseph's Church and the Altar and Rosary Society; Central Community Historical Society; Mercy Associates; Retired Officers Association; and Quad-City Times Plus 60 Club. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose and DeWitt American Legion, Eugene McManus Post 238.
Survivors include sisters, Alice (Mrs. William) Fellers, Rock Island and Gertrude Schaumberg, DeWitt.
Source: Quad City Times, October 12, 1995
