Wednesday June 17, 2009 Press Democrat Santa Rosa, CA Edith Thompson Kishbaugh - Longtime Santa Rosa resident Edith "Tommie" Thompson Kishbaugh, 90, serverd her country in World War II as one of the first women WACs and then serverd her church and school communities for decades. Kishbaugh died Saturday, at her east Santa Rosa home where she'd lived 57 years. She died of causes related to old age, said her daughter Gretchen Kishbaugh of Sebastopol, on the day before her 91st birthday. Tommie Kishbaugh, the daughter of a Boston suffragist, was liberal minded with a strong anti-bigotry message of acceptance of all people. "We were very blessed to grow up with that kind of attitude," her daughter said. "She was just full of energy, a really powerful presence. She was really sharp and not afraid to speak her mind. She was hilarious and had astounding verbal skills," her daughter said. She was raised in Boston and never lost her distinct Boston accent. She was the youngest of Daniel and Mary Thompson's eight girls. In 1942, like so many at that time, Edith Thompson was anxious to help her country. She also had been raised to believe womoen could and should to their part so she became one of the first women to join the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, which soon received status as the Women's Army Corps in 1943. She was recruited for Officer Candidate School and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. In the military, she picked up the nickname "Tommie," which she chose to keep for life. She traveled all over the country during the war and had severl duties including helping translate intercepted German communications. She often spoke of her time in the service, telling her two daughters the importance that period held in her life. After her honorable discharge in 1946, she settled in San Francisco and worked as an administrative assistant at San Francisco Children's Hospital. In 1949, she married Wayne Kishbaugh, a U.S. Navy veteran. They moved to the Montgomery Village neighborhood in east Santa Rosa in 1952. The young family joind St. Eugene's Church, and she became one of the original members of the St. Eugene's Mothers' Club. She worked several years at Herbert Slater Junior High School in the library and counseling offices. She later worked several years for Catholic Charities Community Counseling Services. Her husband died in 1982. Tommie Kishbaugh remained active in many community organizations including the Older Women's League, Readers Theater and Earth Elders. In addition to her daughter Gretchen, she is survived by her daughter Dana Kishbaugh of Santa Rosa, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy service will be at 11 a.m. today at Madelynes' Chapel at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Committal services will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the "I'm Home Alone" program of Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 4900, Santa Rosa 95402. Press Democrat Santa Rosa, CA Tuesday June 16, 2009 & Wednesday June 17, 2009 KISHBAUGH, Edith Thompson "Tommie" - Died early Saturday morning, June 13, 2009 at her home. Hse would have been 91 years old on June 14. Dearly beloved mother of two daughters; Gretchen Wilder Kishbaugh (Leon Siegel) and Dana Mary Kishbaugh. Also survived by her grandchildren; Hannah Kishbuagh Hofman (Darwin Meiners), Ninah Kishbaugh Hofman (Zach Moran) and Dane Michael Kai Frairfield and her great-grandchildren; Emma Wilder Kishbaugh Meiners and Leo Lennon Kishbaugh Meiners. A native of Boston, MA, she was born to Daniel and Mary Thompson, the youngest of eight sisters. In 1942, she was one of the firs women to join the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), which became the Women's Army corps (WAC) in 1943. She completed Officer Candidate School and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. She was stationed in various locations throughout the United States during the war and served in a wide range of postitions, including translator of intercepted German communications, monitor of air space in the San Francisco region and as an air field librarian. She ended her military career in San Francisco, receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, and then began work at San Francisco Children's Hospital as an administrative assistant. She met her husband, Wayne E. Kishbuagh, who had been a Michinist First Class in the U.S. Navy during the war, while living in San Francisco. They were married in 1949 abd moved to Santa Rosa to raise their family. In 1952, they bought a home in Montgomery Village, where Tommie lived until her death. She was a member of the Cathedral of St. Eugene's, where she was one of the original members of the St. Eugenes's Mothers' Club, and worked for many years in the library and counseling offices of Herbert Slater Junior High School. After her first retirement in the early 1980's she workd for Catholic Chariteis/Community Counseling Serviced through the 1980's. After her second retirement, she remaind active in many community organizations including Catholic Charities, the Older Women's League, Readers Therater and Earth Elders. She was strongly commited to social justice, in part inspired by her own mother, who was a Suffragist (sometimes known as The Suffragettes) in Boston in the years preceeding the passage of the Nineteenth Amendmant in 1920. Tommie was a bright, strong, passionate presence and was an inspiration to many. Her absence will be felt strongly by all who knew her. Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Liturgy Service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 inside Madelyne's Chapel at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery) 2930 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95405). Committal Services will follow. Memorial contributions in Tommie's name my be made to the "I'm Home Alone" program of Catholic Charities (P.O. Box 4900 Santa Rosa, CA 95402). Arrangements entrusted to: LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL, Directors (707) 539-2921 * NOTE: Montgomery Village = Santa Rosa, CA