54 JOIN THE WAVES -- Pictures above and on the left are 17 of the 54 who passed examinations and were sworn into the WAVES late Thursday. They are among the 75 from the Tri-city area who will depart Aug 11 for Hunter college, New York, to start their training.
In the picture are:
Front row, left to right -- Jean Beckwith, Mary Gertrude McGinn, Margaret Blunt (Moline), Gladys Frederick and Jean Lay.
Second row -- Mary Kelly, Twila Tompkins, Florence Norton, Barbara Smith and Priscilla Otis.
Third row -- Frances Betzel, Doris Van Hecke, Mary Louise Nugent, Deloris Donnelly and Janet Brown.
Source: Quad-City Times, August 6, 1943 (group photo included)
Florence A. Norton Is Visitor in Wilton; Member of WAVES
WILTON, Ia. -- Aerographers Mate Third Class Florence A. Norton of the WAVES, who has completed a three months course at the Aerographers Training School at Lakehurst, N.J., is home on leave for a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Norton, en route to her new assignment at the Ottumwa Naval Air Station, where she reports for duty, Feb. 10.
Source: The Daily Times, February 2, 1944 (photo included)
Florence Audrey Norton Bates was born Nov. 14, 1920 to Charles W. and Happy Ruby Whitmer Norton. She died Apr. 18, 2007 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilton, IA.
Florence served with the U.S. Navy WAVES in World War II. She was married to Leslie Wilson Bates. Sgt. Bates served with the U.S. Army in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
