Deceased Name: RUTH STREETER, TOP-RANKING WOMAN IN MARINE CORPS IN WORLD WAR II
Ruth (Cheney) Streeter, the highest ranking woman in the Marine Corps during World War II, died of congestive heart failure Sunday at her home in Morristown, N.J. She would have been 95 today.
Mrs. Streeter, a native of Brookline, became the first director of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1943. The Marines were the last of the services to include women. She retired as a colonel in 1946 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service.
Mrs. Streeter had a lifelong interest in aviation and had earned a commercial pilot's license in 1942 in hopes of flying military transport planes, but was denied because she was considered too old.
When she was named head of the Women's Reserve, her three sons were in uniform. One of them said: "She was pawing the air because she wanted to get in."
She donated an air raid shelter to Morristown in 1948 and served as chief of civilian defense. She also served on the Morris Township recreation and environmental commissions.
Mrs. Streeter was a founder of the Morris County Welfare Board and its chairman for eight years. She was one of the original sponsors of the Junior League of Morristown and a driving force in many historic preservation efforts. In addition she was active in the New Jersey State Relief Council, the New Jersey Commission on Interstate Cooperation, the New Jersey Board of Children's Guardians and the New Jersey State Historical Sites Council.
Mrs. Streeter graduated from Miss May's School, now Brimmmer & May School in Chestnut Hill. She attended Bryn Mawr College for two years. She was a summer resident of Peterborough, N.H., for many years.
She leaves three sons, Frank S. of New York, Henry S. of Wenham and Thomas W. of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a daughter, Liliancq S.L. Chance of Malvern, Pa., 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Thomas W. Streeter, a lawyer and banker, died in 1965.
Services will be held tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Morristown. Burial will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Upper Pine Hill Cemetery, Peterborough
Deceased Name: RUTH STREETER, TOP-RANKING WOMAN IN MARINE CORPS IN WORLD WAR II
Ruth (Cheney) Streeter, the highest ranking woman in the Marine Corps during World War II, died of congestive heart failure Sunday at her home in Morristown, N.J. She would have been 95 today.
Mrs. Streeter, a native of Brookline, became the first director of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1943. The Marines were the last of the services to include women. She retired as a colonel in 1946 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service.
Mrs. Streeter had a lifelong interest in aviation and had earned a commercial pilot's license in 1942 in hopes of flying military transport planes, but was denied because she was considered too old.
When she was named head of the Women's Reserve, her three sons were in uniform. One of them said: "She was pawing the air because she wanted to get in."
She donated an air raid shelter to Morristown in 1948 and served as chief of civilian defense. She also served on the Morris Township recreation and environmental commissions.
Mrs. Streeter was a founder of the Morris County Welfare Board and its chairman for eight years. She was one of the original sponsors of the Junior League of Morristown and a driving force in many historic preservation efforts. In addition she was active in the New Jersey State Relief Council, the New Jersey Commission on Interstate Cooperation, the New Jersey Board of Children's Guardians and the New Jersey State Historical Sites Council.
Mrs. Streeter graduated from Miss May's School, now Brimmmer & May School in Chestnut Hill. She attended Bryn Mawr College for two years. She was a summer resident of Peterborough, N.H., for many years.
She leaves three sons, Frank S. of New York, Henry S. of Wenham and Thomas W. of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a daughter, Liliancq S.L. Chance of Malvern, Pa., 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Thomas W. Streeter, a lawyer and banker, died in 1965.
Services will be held tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Morristown. Burial will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Upper Pine Hill Cemetery, Peterborough
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