Dorothy Rungeling

Dorothy Rungeling

Dorothy Rungeling with one of her planes in the 1950s
Born (1911-05-12) May 12, 1911
Nationality Canadian

Dorothy Rungeling (born May 12, 1911)[1] is an award winning pilot from Fenwick, Ontario and has been called one of Canada’s most experienced air racers.[2] She is the adopted daughter of Ethelwyn Wetherald, Canadian poet and journalist.[3] In 2004, Dorothy published a collection of her mother’s writing, “Life and Works of Ethelwyn Wetherald 1857-1940" (Ridgeville, Ont, 2004, D. Rungeling). Dorothy is also known for own her writing as a published author and Aviation Editor for the Evening Tribune, Welland[4] and won an Aviation Writers Award at the 1953 AITA convention.[5] Before venturing into flying, Dorothy also trained and showed horses and wrote a series of instructions for fellow trainers.[6]

As a pilot, Dorothy has participated in Canadian and International Aviation competitions including: All Women’s International Air Races, the Women’s Transcontinental Air Races, and the Canadian Governor-General’s Cup Air Race. Once Dorothy received her private pilot licence she joined the Ninety-Nines (world-wide organization of female pilots formed in 1929).[7] She also worked to make Welland an air-marking and it is believed to be the first air-marking in Canada.[8] She worked in politics, and in 1964 she became the first woman to serve on Pelham town council.

In 2003, Dorothy received the Order of Canada for her accomplishments as a female pilot, which include receiving her pilot’s licence, commercial licence, instructor’s certification, and senior commercial pilot’s licence.[9] A commemorative stamp was issued in honour of Dorothy Rungeling, the first woman to solo a helicopter, on her 99th birthday.[10] She turned 100 in May 2011.[11] Dorothy continued her writing in a column for The Voice of Pelham entitled Viewpoints. She wrote her last article for the publication in February 2013 at the age of 101. In 2015, at the age of 104, the Niagara Central Airport was renamed Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport following consent of Bill 20.[12]

Awards

Publications

References

  1. ↑ http://canadian99s.com/dorothy-rungeling/
  2. ↑ Render, Shirley, No Place for a Lady: The Story of Canadian Women Pilots 1928-1992, 1992, p. 174.
  3. ↑ http://www.canadianpoetry.ca/hidden_rooms/ethelwyn_wetherald.htm)
  4. ↑ Stortz, Joan C., "Head in the Clouds", Alive and Well, November 1978, p 49-52.
  5. 1 2 Aviation Writing Award Winners Photograph Brock University Library Digital Repository
  6. ↑ Stortz, Joan, Why Live Only One Life: The continuing story of Dorothy Rungeling, p32-37.
  7. ↑ Rungeling, Dorothy W., The Flying Housewife, 2003, p.35.
  8. ↑ Dickson, Marilyn (ed.), Canadian Ninety-Nines 2006 Here and Now, 2007, p.89.
  9. ↑ House of Commons Debates, volume 138, number 055, 2nd session, 37th Parliament – Mr. Tony Tirabassi M.P. Niagara Centre
  10. ↑ Dorothy Rungeling "Commemorative Stamp", St. Catharines Standard, 2010
  11. ↑ Staff (2011-06-02). "100 years of inspiration". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  12. ↑ "Rungeling airport name change bill passes", Welland Tribune, June 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ Governor General of Canada Archive
  14. ↑ http://www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/dorothy-rungeling-airport-makes-day/
  15. ↑ http://canadian99s.com/dorothy-rungeling-2/


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