Marjory Munn lost her hard fought three-year battle with cancer in Seattle on July 25. She was 88.
Ms. Munn is survived by her son, Kirk; son, John, and his wife, Susan; son, Rob, and his wife, Dana; as well as eight grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Evelyn and Ellie; and many nieces and nephews.
Ms. Munn was born in Huntington, W.V., on March 17, 1921. Her family moved to Miami when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1939 and became a beautician. While still a teenager, she won a flying lesson in a contest, and became instantly hooked on aviation. She entered flight training at Embry Riddle School and earned her private license with a seaplane rating. She applied to join a new women's military aviation group in 1943, called the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, or WASP in Sweetwater, Texas. She graduated with the WASP Class 44-5, was assigned to Elgin Field in Florida, where she ferried AT-6s to and from gunnery schools and maintenance fields.
In 1948 she became a stewardess with Pan Am World Airways. Based out of New York and Miami, she flew international routes to South America, including the inaugural Boeing-377 Stratocruiser flight ("El Presidente") from New York to Buenos Aires.
In 1949, she accepted a direct commission in the USAF Reserves as a 2nd Lt., and was called to active duty in 1951. One year later, she was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, to serve as a personnel officer and casualty officer. She was promoted to 1st Lt. and awarded the Bronze Star decoration. Ms. Munn remained active in the Air Force Reserve Program.
In April 1953, Ms. Munn married her husband, Jim Munn, in Okinawa. The couple traveled extensively until they moved to Spokane where they both attended Gonzaga University. After he graduated from law school, they moved to Seattle in 1962 and settled in the Queen Anne neighborhood. Ms. Munn loved learning and in 1965, she graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelors degree. By 1966, the couple had adopted and were busy raising three active boys.
In 1983, Ms. Munn was selected by the Secretary of Defense, for a three-year appointment to the Defense Advisory Committee On Women in the Services (DACOWITS). This appointment carried the protocol grade of Lt. General when visiting bases for inspections and gathering information regarding treatment and utilization of female personnel.
Ms. Munn loved gardening and was a member of the Queen Anne Garden Club for years. She was also active in the Women's University Club and the Washington Athletic Club (WAC). Ms. Munn loved the arts and regularly attended opera and symphony events. She had a deep faith and enjoyed her years of worship at the First Free Methodist Church, especially being an active member and participant of its Senior Ministry Program.
Ms. Munn remained active and independent until the final hours of her long, rich life. While we will miss her with all of our hearts, we are all very grateful that she was a part of our lives, and we are all better off because we knew her.
A memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 8, at the First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave W., Seattle. Attendees are invited to greet family members at a reception immediately following the service in the Fine Hall, located next to the church. Flowers may be sent to the First Free Methodist Church. Memorial gifts may be made to Pacific Medical Center in Seattle (Attn: Karyn Beckley), 1200 12th Ave. S., Seattle, Wash. 98144 for use by the infusion suite in memory of Marjory Munn.[[In-content Ad]]
