Obituary of Dorothy B. McClure

McCLURE - Dorothy B., 84, Ebensburg, died on Wednesday Nov. 28, 2007. Born in Canonsburg on Aug. 28, 1923. Preceded in death by parents, George and Mary Helman Baker; infant daughter; husband, Walter; three brothers; and three sisters. Survived by daughter, Linda, wife of Michael Sanborn; son, Gene, and fiancee, Candace Stolz; and nieces, nephews and special friends, Barb and Denny Beecher, Roaring Spring. Dorothy was an aircraft pilot for 47 years and airport operator at New Alexandria and Ebensburg airports from 1956 until 1983. She was a flight instructor and FAA flight test and written test examiner for 9-plus years, and amassed a total of more than 23,000 flight hours. She was a past charter member of the 99's International Organization of Woman Pilots, a group founded by Amelia Earhart. She also was a past member of the Silver Wings Fraternity and was proudly named their Woman Pilot of the Year in 1980. An avid outdoors person, she loved hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor photography, especially photographing the Pennsylvania elk herd in Elk County. She was a published writer of outdoors and hunting stories in the Pennsylvania Mountain Journal, composed many poems and wrote numerous stories of her outdoor experiences. She was a member of First Christian Church of Ebensburg, where she was a longtime choir member and also served in numerous other capacities. At her request, there will be no viewing or services. She was loved and admired by her family and friends and she will be greatly missed. "She has flown her final flight to her beloved mountains"