In Memorial of Virginia L Thompson 1918-2019

Virginia L Thompson, born on May 17th, 1918 and died on March 3, 2019, was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Howard Hoover of Tipp City, Ohio. She graduated from Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City and Miami-Jacobs Business College in Dayton, Ohio. She was employed by Chrysler Airtemp in the latter city.

     In 1941, she earned her Private Pilot Airplane License by winning an essay contest entered by over 14,000 contestants. When it was found out she was a woman the contest holder didn't want to give her the prize of a Private Pilot's license until her father a business owner in the Dayton OH area got involved and demanded the prize. This would help to shape her career and challenge many gender issues in the work place for equality for women. She later earned her Instrument and Rotor Ratings, this changed the course of her life. While flying at Dayton Municipal Airport in Vandalia, Ohio, she met her husband, Lt. Donald M. Thompson, a pilot and Aeronautical Engineer who was based at Wright Patterson Field, Dayton, Ohio.

     In 1954, Virginia joined The Ninety-Nines an International Organizational of Licensed Women Pilots.  Later she became Chairman of the Washington, DC Chapter, followed by Governor of the Middle east Section (Now called Mid-Atlantic Section and International Historian).

    Breaking many glass ceilings during her career she became an engineer at companies such as Bell, Frigidaire, IBM, and Chrysler. She was a rated helicopter pilot when not many males had this rating and Bell Helicopter test pilot another role not held by many women at that time.

     She also served as a Secretary of the International Women’s Air and Space Museum which is now located in Cleveland, Ohio.

     After her husband completed his military service, they moved to Wichita, Kansas. Then moved to Annandale VA during her husband Don’s tenure as Under Secretary Department of Defense Head of Transportation 1952-1980. Their final move was to the Shenandoah Valley, where they purchased the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport and then finally to New Market, VA while working as a mentor for many women in aviation and helping with the daily business of ASCO at Franwood Farms VA. ASCO was the family aircraft business located at a small 1400-foot grass strip known in many circles as “the hangar” where a few thousand people learned to fly. Don and Virginia Thompson had a combined total of 150,000 hours of logged flying time between them.

     While living in New Market VA she also assumed the Presidency of the Home Demonstration Club, now called Family and Community Education Club and a member of the Women’s Memorial Society. She retained her membership in the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #307 of Tipp City and Annandale Virginia United Methodist Church.

     She and other pilots in the area formed the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. and enjoyed many ground and flying activities. She also shared the role as Chairman of the Chapter. She will be missed by her family, loved ones and those who aspire to become an aviation professionals.