Marguerite Lawrence of
Wichita has been coming to Oshkosh as an Admissions Gate volunteer for
30 years. She has also volunteered at Sun ’n Fun for the past 28
years.
But this year became
something special when her five sons and daughter, their spouses, and
other relatives joined her to help celebrate her 90th birthday. Thursday
morning they were all together at Admissions Gate 346, often referred to
as the Warbirds gate, to mark the occasion, which actually takes place
early next month.
Marguerite soloed in 1938
and earned her private ticket in 1940. She wound up marrying her flight
instructor, Roy Gene Lawrence.
"He got her in the
airplane and would not land until she said yes," joked eldest son,
Sondy, who is a member of EAA Chapter 172 in Augusta, Georgia. He said
the idea to reunite at Oshkosh came around the holidays last year.
"I found some rooms
and called everyone and said, ‘Mother’s turning 90, and we need to
have a party,’" he said.
For Marguerite, AirVenture was the
perfect place to have it. "It’s special to be here at
Oshkosh," she said.
