Life on Whidbey: She was one dynamic, humble lady

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Pancreatic cancer claimed the life of B. CATHERINE TUTTLE LOTZENHISER on July 22.

From their home in Coupeville, GEORGE LOTZENHISER recalled the first time he laid eyes on her. He was a trombone player with the Navy Band at NAS Pasco when one night the leader said they’d be recognizing the first contingent of WAVES coming in.

“I saw this cute little blonde and said I’d sure like to dance with her,” George recalled. He was then a Seaman 1st Class and she was a Storekeeper 3rd Class.

“She outranked me then — always did,” George mused. “We met in February 1943 and got married in May of 1944 in Spokane.”

The newlyweds set a record at Eastern Washington University when, as a couple, George became the first married student body president and received the school’s first liberal arts degree in 1947. Her support never faltered, from his graduate studies to completion of his doctorate.

The year 1947 also marked George’s acceptance of a commission in the U.S. Navy where he completed 40 years of combined duty in active and reserve assignments.

Catherine touched thousands of lives through her work in Planned Parenthood; United Way; St. Joseph’s Children’s Home Auxiliary in Spokane where she served as president; YWCA president in Spokane and personnel advisor for Chi Omega. Under her guidance, she established a program and set up a safe house for battered women in Spokane, also developing annual recognition for women who were active in this valuable program.

“She never took credit for the things she did,” George said. “She was dynamic, yet humble. One of the finest women I know.”

Years passed and George ended his naval service, retiring as an admiral. Two sons, Bill (now deceased) and Jon, grew up and moved on. Dean of Fine Arts at Eastern Washington University, George retired for good and Catherine finally came to Whidbey Island in 1989 to the home George built for them.

Catherine, in honor of being the first WAVE from Tacoma to enlist in the Navy in 1942, will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, a memorial service is set for this Saturday, Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Oak Harbor United Methodist Church, 1050 SE Ireland in Oak Harbor.

The wartime romance that began on the dance floor 63 years ago has not ended with Catherine’s passing. From the moment they met, they knew they would love each other forever

A little known fact …

Enlisted men once flew Navy aircraft and were known as Naval Aviation Pilots. Their organization, the Silver Eagles, dates back to World War I.

One veteran speaking at a recent PBY Memorial Foundation luncheon recalled training in an airplane without wings, running up and down the field to get used to the rudder and controls. After 50 hours of training, they were qualified as test pilots, transport pilots and even fighter pilots.

But because the application process dragged on and instructors kept leaving the Navy, the dream of flight was delayed for some.

Oak Harbor’s GEORGE LAMM was inspired by the movie “Blue and Gold.”

“I always wanted to fly,” he said, so he enlisted in 1939, applied for flight school in August of 1941, went aboard ship as a black shoe and finally went to flight school in 1944.

“I got my wings in 1947 as an enlisted pilot, and went to VPAM-2 for 3½ months and moved to Kaneohe. As a first class AP enlisted, I flew PBYs and have flown in just about everything the Navy had,” he noted.

By the time he retired from the U.S. Navy, Lamm had flown over 8,500 hours as an aircrewman in a variety of Navy aircraft. His blood still runs Navy blue. He’d do it all again if he could.

Pardon my nagging …

Why don’t we just automatically spay and neuter our pets? Are we lazy, too cheap or do we simply wish to look the other way and leave it to the animal shelters to do the dirty work?

There aren’t now and never will be enough homes for all the animals that end up being euthanized each year. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out www.waifanimals.org and www.hsus.org.

See you back here on Aug. 9. Write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611.