Nationality Canadian | ||
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Born May 12, 1911 (age 105) ( 1911-05-12 ) | ||
Mpp tim hudak s statement on dorothy rungeling
Dorothy Rungeling (born May 12, 1911) is an award winning pilot from Fenwick, Ontario and has been called one of Canada’s most experienced air racers. She is the adopted daughter of Ethelwyn Wetherald, Canadian poet and journalist. 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 and won an Aviation Writers Award at the 1953 AITA convention. Before venturing into flying, Dorothy also trained and showed horses and wrote a series of instructions for fellow trainers.
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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). She also worked to make Welland an air-marking and it is believed to be the first air-marking in Canada. 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. A commemorative stamp was issued in honour of Dorothy Rungeling, the first woman to solo a helicopter, on her 99th birthday. She turned 100 in May 2011. 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.