This Military Service Page was created/owned by Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3 to remember EARLE, Elinor (Ellen), AerM3c.

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Miss Elinor "Ellen" Southgate-Earle, 90, formerly of Akron, Ohio, died Oct. 9, 2011 from complications of Alzheimer's disease at Evanston, Ill., where she had moved to be near her brother Tom following the death of her sister Mary Elizabeth in 1992. In 1948 Ellen had joined the Akron Public Library system as a reference librarian, and was head of the Kenmore Branch Library at her retirement in 1981.

Born March 24, 1921 in Union City, Ind., Ellen grew up in North East, Pa., and Lexington, Ky. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kentucky, she taught high school English for two years before she joined the WAVES, serving as an aerographer in Washington, D.C. After World War II, Ellen obtained a master's degree in English from Ohio State University, and a Library Science degree from the University of Illinois. She was an assistant reference librarian in the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Ill. before coming to Akron, Ohio.

In 1957 to 1959 she was librarian at the U.S. Army Base in Phalsbourg, France. Later Ellen and her sister traveled extensively in England and Ireland pursuing their mutual interest in genealogy. Ellen always loved books and reading; she and her sister had a personal library of about two thousand books. As a young child, her brother Tom recalls, Ellen returned home in tears one day when she realized she would never be able to read all the books in the North East Public Library.

Ellen is survived by her brother, Thomas "Tom" Evans Earle and five nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Elizabeth Earle; and her brother, Edward "Ted" Southgate Earle. Burial was at Southgate, Kentucky. Memorial contributions may be made to your local public library or your favorite educational institution.

WWII WAVES:

Women Appointed for Volunteer Emergency Service