Ruth Payne Becomes An Air Pilot

From the Oskaloosa Independent, June 14, 1945

Miss Ruth Payne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Payne, Oskaloosa, was a few days ago granted a civilian air pilot’s license, after completing a 35-hour course at the flying school in Lawrence and successfully passing the required examination. She thus became Oskaloosa’s first licensed girl flyer.

Miss Payne had several hours of flying beyond the minimum requirement of her 35; her thirteen hours of solo flying included a trip over Oskaloosa; also flights to Topeka and to Kansas City with a landing at each city. Her final examination included C A requirements, navigation, meteorology, general service of aircraft. In each of these subjects she made good scores with an enviable average of 92%.

Miss Payne is completing her sophomore year in college of liberal arts at University of Kansas. She is a member of Delta Gamma.

Editor’s Note: Ruth Ellen Payne married Donald Frank Butler in 1953. They lived in Kansas City, Missouri. Ruth's father, William A. “Bill” Payne, was a long-time Kansas Power and Light employee and manager of Walter Moxley’s power and light and ice company. Tina Allen Payne, Ruth’s mother, died in July 1945.

This article appeared in "Yesteryears" in October 2022. https://www.jchsks.com/publications