SP3 US Navy, Myrtle Ruth Cox Speer
Born: July 29, 1923
Died: December 11, 2013
Burial Site: SFNC, Section 6A, Site 327
Myrtle Ruth Cox Speer entered the Navy Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) on September 25, 1944, and completed her training at Hunter College in New York City. 1, 2, 3, 4 In November of 1944, she was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia where she served as one of the first female air traffic controllers. 1, 3, 4, 5 She was honorably discharged from the Navy on June 11, 1946. 6
Cox Speer, known as “Myrtle” in her childhood and “Ruth” as an adult, was born in Bramber, Hants County, Nova Scotia, on July 29, 1923. 3 Her parents were Elleda H. and Vernon O. Cox. 7, 8 Her father was a carpenter, and her mother was a dressmaker and a nurse. 8 She arrived in the United States on December 22, 1927, and grew up in Vermont and Maine. 7, 8 She attended Cape Elizabeth High School in Maine where she was an honor roll student and acted in the school play. 9, 10, 11 She also played the violin and was active in the Girl Scouts and in a local Christian youth association. 12 In 1941 she graduated from high school, and she was working towards her pilot’s license in Keene, New Hampshire in 1943. 13, 14 By August of 1944, she was a member of the Portland Squadron Civil Air Patrol and held a radiotelegrapher license. 15
After the war, Cox Speer took a course in aviation at Steven’s College in Missouri and attended the University of Maine. 16, 17 In 1950, she was living in Seattle and working as a secretary for the Veteran’s Administration. In 1951, she married John Bristol (Jack) Speer, her husband of 57 years. 18 After having two children and moving to New Mexico in 1961, she became active in the American Association of University Women (AAUW), acted as her church’s historian, conducted genealogical research, and played tennis until the age of eighty. 3 Her obituary tribute describes Cox Speer thusly, “At the end of her 90 years, she always had a smile and a pleasant word for her family and caretakers and retained her sense of humor and her love of nature until the very end.” 3
Images & Documents
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox P2
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D1
“News of Maine Men and Women in the Service,” Portland Evening Express, September 21, 1944, 20. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D2
“CAP to WAVE,” Portland Press Herald, September 24, 1944, 11. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D3
“Miss Myrtle Ruth Cox,” Portland Press Herald, November 5, 1944, 13. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D4
“Myrtle R. Cox,” Portland Press Herald, December 30, 1945, 11. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D5
“Myrtle Ruth Cox,” Portland Evening Express, June 1, 1946, 18. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D6
“To Enter Steven’s College,” Portland Press Herald Sun, June 16, 1946. Newspapers.com.
Speer, Myrtle Ruth Cox D7
“Speer, Myrtle Ruth,” Albuquerque Journal, December 15, 2013, 15. Newspapers.com.
Notes:
1. “News of Maine Men and Women in the Service,” Portland Evening Express, September 21, 1944, 20. Newspapers.com.
2. “CAP to WAVE,” Portland Press Herald, September 24, 1944, 11. Newspapers.com.
3. “Speer, Myrtle Ruth,” Albuquerque Journal, December 15, 2013, 15. Newspapers.com.
4. “Miss Myrtle Ruth Cox,” Portland Press Herald, November 5, 1944, 13. Newspapers.com.
5. “Myrtle R. Cox,” Portland Press Herald, December 30, 1945, 11. Newspapers.com
6. “Myrtle Ruth Cox,” Portland Evening Express, June 1, 1946, 18. Newspapers.com
7. Year: 1930; Census Place: Springfield, Windsor, Vermont; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 2342166.
8. Year: 1940; Census Place: Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: m-t0627-01474; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 3-19.
9. “Cape Elizabeth,” Portland Press Herald, Mar 24, 1940, 10. Newspapers.com
10. “Cape Elizabeth,” Portland Evening Express, March 29, 1941, 12. Newspapers.com
11. “Cape Elizabeth High Honor Roll Posted,” Portland Press Herald, April 3, 1940, 18. Newspapers.com
12. “Cape Elizabeth,” Portland Evening Express, April 27, 1940. Newspapers.com.
13. “Cape Elizabeth,” Portland Evening Express, June 11, 1941, 7. Newspapers.com.
14. “Senior Honors are Announced at South Portland High School,” Portland Evening Express, April 16, 1943, 14. Newspapers.com.
15. “Three Elected to Posts in Local Schools,” Portland Evening Express, August 14, 1944, 14.
16. “To Enter Steven’s College,” Portland Press Herald Sun, June 16, 1946. Newspapers.com.
17. Cumberland County Students at State University Announced,” Portland Press Herald, November 2, 1947, 10. Newspapers.com.
18. “Birthday Party and Layette Shower is Held,” The Duncan Eagle, April 26, 1951, 5. Newspapers.com.
Featured Image:
“CAP to WAVE,” Portland Press Herald, September 24, 1944, 11. Newspapers.com.
Prepared by Sue Ruth, Ph.D., Central New Mexico Community College