The Anniston Star ● Sunday, November 10, 2013 ● Page 6E
SUNDAY RECORD YOUR GUIDE TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND VITAL STATISTICS IN CALHOUN COUNTY BANKRUPTCIES
DEATHS Marion Miller Bell, Munford Agnes Bowling Birchfield, Oxford Mary Bradford, Anniston Mildred Faulkner Bradley, Piedmont Donald Odell Cockrell, Munford Bruce Doyle Coker, Dadeville Jonathan David Couch, Springville Polly Elston, Anniston Audrey Chandler Glass, Coldwater Melba Hall, Valley Jean McIntyre Hicks, Phenix City Fred House, Oxford Gary Don Hudgins, Centre Alfred Jones, Nashville, TN Betty Jean Jones, Oxford William Joshua, Anniston Margaret E. Kellams, Anniston R.P. King, Ellisville William Thomas Lewis, Woodland Jackie Lloyd, Anniston Julius Wayne Mason, Jacksonville Edna Loette Fincher McManus, Colorado Mary McMath, Ashland Eddie Meadors, Heflin
Heather Moon, Centre Virginia Murphy, Anniston Fred “Bug” Nunnelley Jr., Mountain Brooke Michael Harry Phillips, Atlanta Robert Ellis Pinkard, Hamilton Dewey P. Pitts, Saks Tom Pruitt Sr., Anniston Ceola Rudolph, Anniston Elsie Russell, Eastaboga Reccie Shears, Anniston Barbara Nelson Simmons, Ohatchee Linda A. Smith, Spring Garden Ruthie Macie Smith, Heflin Linwood “Penny” Strickland, Oxford Bettye Ann Griffin Tolleson, Rainbow City Clemmon Walker, Anniston Robert Walton, Lincoln Brenda H. Watts, Anniston Dorothy Jean White, Anniston Gary Lee Wilkerson, Oxford Thomas L. “T.L.” Woodgett Sr., Wedowee Hazel Hampton Youson, Georgia Natasha Ann Zenanko, Jacksonville
RATE OF BANKRUPTCIES 15
15
12
12
9
9
6
6
3
3 0
MARRIAGE LICENSES
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows the debtor to retain certain exempt property, but the debtor’s remaining property is gathered and sold by a trustee from which creditors will receive payment. It may also be used by businesses which wish to terminate their business. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy enables debtors, through court supervision and protection, to propose and carry out a repayment plan under which creditors are paid, in full or in part, in installments over a three-year period. During that time, debtors are prohibited from starting or continuing collection efforts. The following bankruptcies declared by Calhoun County residents were recorded by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Alabama last week:
Chapter 7 • Jessica Gardner, Florence Boulevard, Oxford • James E. Martin, Reaves Road, Anniston • Misty Leigh Harris, Louise Drive Southeast, Jacksonville • Mary Ann Adamson, Arika Lane, Ohatchee • LaKeisha Carolyn Fantroy, Ware Street, Anniston • Joey Lamar Dodd, Anniston • Zora C. Garner, Shannahan Drive, Weaver • Robert F. Nunez, Ingram Wells Road, Ohatchee
Chapter 13
13
13 11
52 weeks ago
Last week
This week
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• Latoya Bullock, Midway Lane, Anniston • Donald Rollins and Jennifer Turner, U.S. 78 East, Anniston • William Porter, Central City Lane, Anniston • William H. McMichael, South Marshall Street, Anniston • Burdette Talley and Lasonja Talley, East 52nd Street, Anniston
• James Alton Akles of Anniston to Towandaleur Vanquett Burnett of Anniston • Gregory Thatch of Anniston to Xernona Fennie of Anniston • Steve Cody Perkins of Alexandria to Bobbie Brooke Brownfield of Alexandria • James Alvin Pittman of Anniston to Carrie Marie Harris of Anniston • Willie James Orr Jr. of Ohatchee to Stephanie Elizabeth Shield of Ohatchee • Donald Ray Haynes of Piedmont to Renate Elisabeth Dominiak of Piedmont • Daniel Lee Mosley of Alexandria to Cynthia Elizabeth Waites of Alexandria • Grady Paul Brooks
Bulls and steers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. 200.00 to 232.50; 300-400 lbs. 182.00 to 225.00; 400-500 lbs. 162.00 to 205.00; 500-600 lbs. 140.00 to 165.00; 600700 lbs. 118.00 to 147.00. Heifers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. Too Few; 300-400 lbs. 157.00 to 205.00; 400-500 lbs. 147.00 to 170.00; 500600 lbs. 134.00 to 156.00; 600-700 lbs. 120.00 to 139.00.
SLAUGHTER CLASSES:
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RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS
• Applebee’s Neighborhood, 612 E. Hamric Drive, Oxford — 97. • C.E. Hanna Elementary School — 100. • CJ’s Family Restaurant, 2308 U.S. 78, W., Oxford — 94. • Café McClellan, 171 Town Center Drive, Anniston — 98. • Custom Pizza, 7802 Alabama 77, Ohatchee — 99. • Damn Yankees Steak/Fish & Oyster Bar, 919 Noble St., Anniston — 100. • Daylight Donuts, 1400 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 97. • Discount Food Mart, 828 Lenlock Lane, Anniston — 97.
FEEDER CLASSES:
The material inside the Sunday Record is recorded by The Anniston Star from FORECLOSURES various institutions and • Entrust Gulf Coast and Michelle Forthofer, • Gladys Lowe, Anniston Manufacturing Co. government offices. a parcel of land in section 19, township 16, addition to Mill Village, block 361, lot 2. The public records are published as they appeared range 8. • James Scott Henderson and Tara Leeann on the documents obtained • Gwendolyn Busby and Sammy Busby, a parcel of land in section 7, township 16, Henderson, Brown subdivision, block 1, lots by the newspaper. Direct questions and comments range 9. 4 and 5. about Sunday Record to Isaac Godwin at igodwin@ Check out the digital edition at www.AnnistonStar.com annistonstar.com.
The people listed in this arrest report, whose a controlled substance. names and charges are obtained from public records, are presumed innocent unless Calhoun County proven guilty in a court of law. The following felony arrests were reportAnniston ed by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office The following felony arrests were report- during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. ed by the Anniston Police Department Thursday. (addresses not provided) during the sev- • Freddy Wayne Pate Jr., 38, of Oxford: proen-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday. bation violation. • Stacey Laine Robertson Elders, 44: three • Helleni Michelle Lopez, 31, of Oxford: warcounts of possession of a controlled sub- rant of arrest. stance. • Thomas Lamar Garrett, 41, of Piedmont: • Darryl Alonzo White, 30: possession of a probation violation. controlled substance. • Jaclyn Nicole Freeman, 19, of Jacksonville: • Bruce Daniel Ward, 29: first-degree pos- third-degree escape, motion to revoke bond. session of a forged instrument. • Norman Lee Bush Jr., 21, of Anniston: sec• Frederick Lamont Lovett, 44: possession of ond-degree escape.
NO MAJOR DEMERITS DEMERITS
Here is the livestock market report for the Tuesday sale. Receipts for this week 881 compared to 1000 last week. Receipts a year ago 922.
Cows: Breakers 71.00 to 73.00; Boners 72.00 to 77.00; Lean 65.00 to 69.00. Bulls: Normal Dressing 54-58% 90.00 to 93.50; High DIVORCES Dressing >58% 97.00 to • Rebecca Yvonne • Richard Dale Combs 101.50; Low Dressing Parker and Denny Ray to April Lynn Combs Parker • Julie R. Poore and WILLS PROBATED • Jessica Nicole John Larry Poore Sr. Smoot and Lee Roy • William Harold Wait- • Nellie J. Burch Smoot Jr. es and Linda Denice • Anne J. Flannagan • Willie B. Cobb • Erica R. Jennings to Waites Michael A. Jennings • Christy Michelle • Sandra Hulene Williams Rogers • Jeffery Brett Finch and Heidi Crawford Smith and Kenneth • Dianna Tondre Wright Ray Smith Finch • Sheena L. King and • Joshua Dale Payne INCORPORATIONS Christopher Dewight and Stacy Payne • Anja Both and Ray• My Father’s Arms LLC King • Smallcakes Oxford LLC • Jeremy Higginboth- mond McKinnon am and Bethany Hig- • Merry L. Mayell and ginbotham Simon Mayell EDITOR’S NOTE
ARRESTS
Here are food service establishments recently inspected by the Calhoun County Health Department, along with scores. A score of 100 indicates the inspector found no deficiencies. Potentially hazardous deficiencies (four- or five-point demerit items) are noted. These must be corrected immediately and inspectors say they are often corrected while the inspection is underway. Restaurants earning below 70 must raise their scores within seven days or face closure.
III of Jacksonville to Candice Dawn Frisby of Jacksonville • Justin Steven Stamm of Oxford to Heather Rebecca Harmon of Oxford • Adam Carl Edwards of Jacksonville to Jacqueline Kay Aguirre of Jacksonville • Jeffrey Keith Roberts of Oxford to Jennifer Louise Moll-Cutie of Oxford • Patrick Scott Gilbert of Anniston to Valarie Jasmine Esparza of Anniston • Ralph Edward Bishop of Jacksonville to Jeannette Laquita Vice of Jacksonville • Zondrick Lameric Foster of Anniston to Karena Gabrell Thomas of Anniston
CATTLE SALE
• Immanuel Oriental Market, 4410 McClellan Blvd., Anniston — 95. • J’s Wings & Fish, 420 W. 15th St., Anniston — 96. • Jack’s Family Restaurant, 18 Big Valley Drive, Alexandria — 97. • Jess BBQ, 1709 Noble St., Anniston — 95. • Joe Muggs, 900 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 98. • Kentucky Fried Chicken, 2000 N. Quintard Ave., Anniston — 94. • Logan’s Roadhouse, 40 Ali Way, Oxford — 96. • Meadowbrook Abundant Childcare, Oxford — 99. • Pop’s on Wheels, 1725 Broadwell Mill Road, Jacksonville — 96. • Prime Dining & Bar, 320 S. Quintard Ave., Anniston — 95. • Quick Mart, 1001 U.S. 431, N., Anniston — 99. • Shoney’s, 1017 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 97. • Tokyo Express, 1801 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 94. • Waffle House, 119 Big Valley Drive, Alexandria — 97. • Waffle House, 1201 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 95.
Crimes are listed by location. Anonymous tips may be called in to Crime Stoppers at 256-238-1414. A reward of up to $1,000 may be given.
nue: firearm. • Residence, 500 block of South Colvin Street: wallet, personal I.D., cash. • Residence, 400 block of Tomahawk Trail: cash. Anniston • Parking lot, 300 block of Elm Street: 2010 The following property crimes were report- Dodge Charger. ed to the Anniston Police Department during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thurs- I.D. theft • Bank, 1000 block of Quintard Avenue: perday. sonal I.D., credit card, cash.
Burglaries
• Residence, 700 block of Blue Ridge Drive: firearm. Calhoun County • Residence, 100 block of East 30th Street: copper wire and tubing. • Residence, 700 block of Hutto Hill Road: The following property crimes were reported to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office refrigerator, heater, air conditioner. during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thefts Thursday. • Commercial location, 500 block of Quintard Burglaries Avenue: lighting fixtures. • Residence, 500 block of Knox Avenue: cell • Residence, Lincoln Street, Hobson City: DVD player, television. phone. • Residence, 4000 block of Dix Street: satel- Thefts lite receiver. • Residence, Murphree Lake Road: lawn- • Residence, Cedar Creek Road, Piedmont: 2004 Honda 4-wheeler. mower. • Residence, 100 block of Murphree Lake • Street, Eastern Mountain Road, Anniston: 2007 Ford Mustang. Road: 4-wheeler, generator. • Alexandria Elementary School, 2525 Alex• Church, 4700 block of Saks Road: ladder. andria-Wellington Road, Alexandria: cell Auto-related thefts phone and case. • Field location, County Road 109 and Ala- • Residence, bama 202: tractor batteries. • Street location, 1700 block of Moore Ave- Auto-related thefts • Residence, McIntosh Road, Oxford: 2003 nue: cash. • Residence, 400 block of South Allen Ave- Jeep Wrangler.
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Sunday, November 10, 2013 Page 7E
SUNDAY RECORD CALENDAR: AnnistonStar.com/calendar PROPERTY TRANSFERRED
• Forrest M. Sandlin III and Melony E. Sandlin to Brandon L. Hall, a parcel of land in section 6, township 15, range 8, $97,500. • Jacquelyn B. Lewallyn and Rebecca L. Dodd to Jeremy Brandon Ginn, a parcel of land in section 15, township 13, range 7, $10. • Housing & Urban Development to Samuel Chukwuemeka, Phoenix Hills Estates, lot 28, $27,500. • Freedom Mortgage Corp. to Housing & Urban Development, a parcel of land in section 35, township 13, range 7, $1. • Freddie Mac to Sharon Leann Gamble, Kon Tiki subdivision, lot 109, $83,026. • Patsy Olmstead Hanvey to Evelyn C. Gacasan, Lakewood Estates, Melvin Chapman addition, lot 13, $86,500. • Donald E. Chumley and Holly D. Chumley to Donald E. Chumley, Lakewood Estates, block 2, lot 9, $10. • Springleaf Financial Services of Alabama to Bobby Woodrow, Brightwood subdivision, block 3, lots 8 and 9, $10. • Michael D. Everett to Daniel Lopez, Anniston Land Co., block 515B, lot 10, $10. • Veterans Affairs to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Sherwood Forest subdivision, 2nd addition, block 2, lot 23, $10. • JPMorgan Chase Bank to Gary Abbott, Sherwood Forest subdivision, 2nd addition, block 2, lot 23, $10. • James Gregory Aderholt and Cheryl B. Aderholt to Randall G. McCaffrey Jr.,a parcel of land in section 18, township 15, range 8, $110,000. • Fannie Mae to Christopher L. Hyche and Laura J. Hyche, a parcel of land in section 16, township 16, range 9, $106,000. • Rocky Road Development Inc. to Nicholas D. Arnold, Jackson Oaks subdivision, lot 14, $10. • Bobby Williams and Janet Williams to Janet Williams, Austin Bailey and Bobby Williams, Bet-
ta-View Hills subdivision, block A, lots 15 and 16, $10. • David Glenn Rose and Brandi Rose to David Glenn Rose and Brandi Rose, a parcel of land in section 1, township 13, range 7, $0. • Diane G. Studdard to Angela S. Harper, Suzanne S. Haney and Diane G. Studdard, Piedmont Land & Improvement Co., block 77, lots 15-17. • Goldstean Mallard and Hester Mallard to Christy Dee Ingram, Goldstean Mallard and Hester Mallard, Anniston City Land Co., block 259, lot 5, $10. • K-Jon Properties LLC to Dan L. Cody and Cosetta L. Cody, Willow Point Revisison 1, lots 20 and 21, $10. • Housing & Urban Development to Southern Specialty Properties LLC, Pine Hill Country Club, lot 3, $121,000. • Frank B. Tant and Rachel S. Tant to Barbara Wynn, Summerall subdivision, lot 22, $210,000. • Bank of America to Housing & Urban Development, Willow Creek subdivision, 4th addition, lot 26. • Tyler W. Horton to M&M Land Co. LLC, a parcel of land in section 28, township 16, range 6, $10. • Walkita Easley to Waddell Construction Co. LLC, Mountain Terrace, John Street’s 2nd addition, block D, lot 7, $10. • Larry Michael Pilkington to Floyd A. Smith III and Angela U. Smith, Sunset Heights, Diana Hills 4th addition, block 5, lot F, $10. • Ricky Henderson to John D. Ward and Brenda T. Ward, Golden Springs subdivision, 3rd addition, block E, lot 14, $10. • Edward Brown and Dianna T. Brown to Willard Griffin, Anniston Land Co., block 527E, lot 39, $10. • Vernon Norris Garrick to Davisson J. Edmond and Susan M. Edmond, a parcel of land in section 14, township 14, range 8, $10. • East Alabama Community Development Corp. to Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, Quintard Tower Condominium, lots
102 and 103, $10. • Charlotte Y. Hubbard to Hubbard Holdings LLC, a parcel of land in section 14, township 13, range 8, $10. • Janice Howard to Robert Bryan Howard, a parcel of land in section 14, township 13, range 8, $10. • Ronald G. Sweatt Jr. and Tammy T. Sweatt to Calhoun Development Co. Inc., Buckhorn subdivision, phase VI, 1st addition, lot 140, $10. • Calhoun Development Co Inc. to Ronald G. Sweatt and Tammy T. Sweatt, Buckhorn subdivision, phase IX, lot 3, $10. • Violet P. Nicholson-Estate to Robert E. Nicholson, fractional section D of a parcel of land in section 31, township 14, range 6, $1. • Peyton Properties LLC and Emerald Homes of Alabama LLC to Stephen M. Gay, a parcel of land in section 34, township 14, range 7, $10. • Correy Norred and Charlee Norred to Margaret R. Dorough, Whispering Oaks subdivision, 1st addition, lot 39, $10. • Renovation City Church to Anniston’s First Baptist Church at McClellan, City of Anniston, block 125, lots 10-18, $10. • Mohammad Kamran MD to Quality of Life Health Services Inc., Tyler Hill subdivision, block 8, lots 9 and 10, $10. • Holmes Properties LLC to Alabama Land Trust Inc., Oxford Retail Center, $10. • Watson Drug Store LLC to Robert O. Holbrooks, a parcel of land addressed 121 North Center Avenue, Piedmont, $10. • Samuel L. Braddock and Peggy Oneal Braddock to Dustin C. Reid and Cheryl P. Reid, a parcel of land in sections 35/36, township 13, range 9, $10. • Jimmy L. Braddock and Lucretia M. Braddock to Dustin C. Reid and Cheryl P. Reid, a parcel of land in section 35, township 13, range 9, $10. • Sherre J. Wells to Barry W. Wells and Sherre J. Wells, a parcel of
land in section 22, township 13, range 8, $10. • William B. Frankum and Tonya C. Frankum to George F. Ray and Kimberly A. Ray, Grandview subdivision, 8th addition, lot 67, $10. • Stephen G. Boozer to Jimmy W. Littlejohn and Phyllis H. Littlejohn, a parcel of land in section 32, township 13, range 8, $10. • JAFCO LLC to Tim Cain Enterprises LLC and Lester Lamar Cain, a parcel of land in section 8, township 16, range 7, $10. • William E. Weldon to Kimberly Weldon and William E. Weldon, Lyncoya subdivision, 1st addition, lot 2, $10. • Molly Elizabeth Bell and Elaine Bailey to Molly Bailey, a parcel of land in section 5, township 13, range 10. • Gloria Davis to Caportia Jenkins, Heartland-Duke Land Co., block 4, lot 75, $10. • Leila D. Isbell to Danny Miles Isbell, fraction C of a parcel of land in section 29, township 15, range 9, $10. • Shirley Brown Revocable Trust to David A. Neisler and Merry J. Neisler, a parcel of land in section 31, township14, range 8, $10. • Deborah Watts and Tommy Watts to Shirley B. Brown 2010 Revocable Trust, re-subdivision of Eagle Pass, block B, lot 11, $10. • Bruce Arlen Haynes and Mary Haynes to James Ricky Bobo, a parcel of land in section 13, township 16, range 7, $1. • Marshall E. Twigg Jr. and Elizabeth F. Twigg to Milton Cannon and Miranda Cannon, Anniston City Land Co., block 197, lot 1, $10. • Groshong Family Trust to Okla F. Blankenship, Mechanicsville, block 33, lot 1, $10. • Gerald Lee Bun and Milisa Renae Bunn to Gerald Lee Bunn, Green Meadows subdivision, block C, lot 9, $10. • Cider Ridge Alabama LLC to William H. Reimer Jr., Cider Ridge subdivision, phase 1 reassessment, block RP, lot 8RP, $50,000.
• Kenneth Weigel and Glenda Weigel to Joanne H. Lowry, Golden Springs subdivision, 5th addition, lot 57, $107,000. • Dan Wilkinson Jr.-Estate to John C. Stewart and Barbara D. Stewart, a parcel of land in section 17, township 16, range 7, $10. • Lamar Phillips and Lori Phillips to BBV Anniston LLC, Anniston City Land Co., block 246, lots 10 and 11, $275,000. • Bank of America to Housing & Urban Development, Cheaha Acres No. 2, block 5, lot 22, $147,930. • Sidney C. Johnson to Marion Beverly, a parcel of land in section 20, township 16, range 7, $10. • Margaret Hill-Estate to Jennifer Moody and John Moody Jr., Westwood subdivision, 3rd addition, lot 31, $10. • Winfred Grimes and Mary Jo Grimes to John Reinhart, a parcel of land in section 13, township 14, range 8, $10. • John Reinhart to John Edward Davidson, a parcel of land in section 13, township 14, range 8, $66,400. • K-Jon Properties LLC to William J. Dunn and Sherry C. Dunn, Willow Point subdivision, lots 19 and 20, $89,000. • Benjamin Lee Jones to Daniel Edwards Jones, a parcel of land in section 10, township 13, range 10, $10. • Michael B. Cobb and Rita A. Cobb to Rita A. Steslicki and Robert J. Steslicki, Carriage Hills subdivision, block 4, lot 10, $10. • Shirley D. Hughes to Richard L. Smith, plan by Albert and Ernie Noble, block 247, lot 2, $10. • Eric J. Pelletier to Catherine A. Clifton, a parcel of land in section 25, township 16, range 8, $10. • Ladiga Manor LLC to Jacksonville Retirement Investors LLC, a parcel of land in section 22, township 14, range 8, $10.
At ripe old age of 93, this Rosie is still riveting BY SAMANTHA SCHAEFER Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Elinor Otto braces her slight frame and grips the riveting gun with both hands, her bright red hair and flowered sweater a blossom of color in Long Beach, Calif.’s clanking Boeing C-17 plant. Boom, boom, boom. She leans back as the gun’s hammer quickly smacks the fasteners into place. Then she puts the tool in a holster and zips around a wing spar to grab a handful of colorful screw-on backs, picking up another gun along the way to finish them off. Her movements are deft and precise. “Don’t get in her way, she’ll run you over,” a co-worker says with a smile. Otto finishes a section of fasteners, looks up and shrugs. “That’s it.” Just another day at the office for a 93-year-old “Rosie the Riveter” who stepped into a San Diego County factory in 1942 — and is still working on the assembly line today. Otto is something of a legend among her co-workers on the state’s last large military aircraft production line. And her legend is growing: She was recently honored when Long Beach opened Rosie the Riveter Park next to the site of the former Douglas Aircraft Co. plant, where women worked during World War II. “She says, ‘We can do it!’ and I’m doing it!” Otto says, flexing her thin arm and laughing, mimicking the iconic poster. If she were younger, she jokes, she would look at herself now and wonder, “What’s that old bag still doing here?” But Otto seems to have more energy than those half a century younger. “I wish I was in as gooda shape as she’s in at my age,” says fellow structural mechanic Kim Kearns — who is 56. Otto is out of bed at 4 a.m. and drives to work early to grab a coffee and a newspaper before the 6 a.m. meeting. In the Boeing lot, she parks as far from the plant as possible so she can get some exercise. Every Thursday, she brings in cookies and goes to the beauty parlor to have her hair and nails touched up after her shift ends. “She’s an inspiration,” says Craig Ryba, another structural mechanic. “She just enjoys working and enjoys life.” *** Otto was beautiful, with bright blue eyes and dark hair piled high, when she joined a small group of women at Rohr Aircraft Corp. in Chula Vista, Calif., during World War II. The bosses threatened to give demerits to the men who stood around trying to talk to her — so Otto’s suitors left notes for her in the phone booth, where she called her mother every day. Back then, everyone worked for the war effort, Otto says, so they didn’t think much of their jobs — it was tough to find good ones. World War II was all-consuming, with product rationing and scrap metal collections, and men leaving for the war. Otto joined the war effort with her two sisters, one who worked alongside her at Rohr, the other a welder in a Bay Area shipyard. She was newly single with a young
Photos courtesy of Los Angeles Times
LEFT: Elinor Otto began working on an assembly line as a single mother in her 20s during World War II. RIGHT: Otto, 93, works as a wing mechanic placing rivets in a wing at Boeing in Long Beach, Calif., in August. son. “During those days, we could hardly find an apartment that would let you rent with kids. My goodness, they’re going to go to war someday and they can’t even live in an apartment,” says Otto, who had to board her son out during the week. “It cost $20 a week, and it was hard because I made 65 cents an hour.” At the plant, she would make the others laugh at how fast she could rivet, she says, quickly moving her hands and stomping her feet to demonstrate. The men resented the women at first — shirts had to stay on, for one thing — and doubted that they could get the job done, she says. “It turned out we worked better than them, faster, because they were so sure of themselves.” And on the days they didn’t feel like going in, she and the girls would put “Rosie the Riveter” by the Four Vagabonds on their 78 phonograph. They would sing and bop along to the music to get themselves motivated and out the door. All the day long, Whether rain or shine, She’s a part of the assembly line. She’s making history, Working for victory, Rosie — BRRRR — the Rivet-er. Days after the war ended, Otto and other women were let go as men returned home. “They needed us at one time, and when the war was over, they let us go,” she says. “That’s how it was.” *** Thousands of women flocked to California to work at aircraft factories during the war. The first wave was mostly single women, but wives, mothers, groups of friends and sisters followed. It was tough work, with the challenge of finding child care and the pressures of a society shaken by war and changing norms, says Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who wrote the book “Rosie the
Riveter in Long Beach.” After a hard day’s work, men and even other women would sometimes harass Rosies if they went home in their dirty pants or overalls instead of changing into a skirt and sweater, she says. “It’s an interesting struggle that women went through just simply because they were trying to do something to help end the war,” Schipske says. “It was an incredible amount of work they had to do.” Interest in Rosies peaked in the 1970s and ‘80s, as the “We Can Do It” poster was rediscovered and became a symbol of the women’s movement, Schipske says. Now, families are becoming more aware of relatives’ contributions during the war, she says. A year ago, Otto would have said that working during the war was no big deal, grandson John Perry, 43, says. But as more people talk to her about her history, he says, the more she realizes she really did something important. “You’ve saved American lives and you’ve been saving American lives your whole life,” Perry says he tells his grandmother. “It’s a powerful story, a positive story, and one hell of a tribute to the female work force.” Growing up, Perry says, his grandmother taught him etiquette and culture when he was shuttling back and forth between parents. When he wrote letters to her, she corrected his spelling in neat red pen and sent them back. “As long as her eyes are open,” Perry says, “she’s going.” *** After the war ended, Otto tried other jobs, but sitting in an office drove her nuts — she hates being still. Car-hopping worked out until roller skates were added to the uniform. (“I’da broke my neck, skating and holding food! No, no, no.”) She worked for Ryan Aeronautical Co. in San Diego for 14 years, until she was laid off. At a party nearly a year later, a girlfriend told her to get to Los Angeles as fast as she
could. Douglas Aircraft was hiring women for the first time since the war. A car full of women left for Long Beach that night, she says, and were hired right away. In its heyday, Otto says, the C-17 plant was fully staffed with a parking lot so big that workers put flags on their cars to find them in the sea of vehicles. Long Beach was a hub of production during the war and after, but in the decades since, the aerospace industry in the city has shrunk as demand for military aircraft has fallen. In mergers over those years, Douglas became McDonnell Douglas Corp., which later joined with the Boeing Co. Kearns worked at the plant for more than 20 years before meeting Otto. But as the production at the C-17 plant dwindled and operations became more mechanized, “It was kinda like trimming back the bushes, you can see your neighbor again,” Kearns says of meeting Otto. “She tells us not to treat her any different,” Ryba says. “She works that job just like any of us and sometimes maybe better.” Over the years, her crew has been supportive of Otto, who remarried and eventually divorced. Last year, when her son died, they surprised her by attending the graveside service. So many people showed up for her that she thought there was another funeral coming, she says with a tear in her eye and a squeeze of Kearns’ hand. On Sept. 12, the Air Force ended its 32-year relationship with the Long Beach plant as it received its 223rd and final cargo jet. Foreign sales are few and small, but will keep the plant running until late 2014. Boeing will soon make a decision about the future of the production. The great-grandmother says she would like to retire soon as well, but she refuses to become a couch potato. She’s worked so long for economic reasons — she cared for her mother and son for years — but also because of her endless energy. “When I go to heaven,” she says with a laugh, “I hope God keeps me busy!”