Thelma Loos

Thelma Maxine Loos, 88, of Midland, Mich., died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at Brittany Manor.

She was born prematurely, weighing only three pounds and one ounce on Sept. 7, 1915, in Ashland, Neb., where both her late parents, Reno and Eugenia (Marney) Pierce were teachers in nearby schools.

During childhood, Thelma moved many times, as her family farmed and taught in several places including Omaha, Neb., Yankton, S.D., and Denver, Colo. She graduated as high school valedictorian in Summerfield, Kan., and earned a scholarship to study pharmacy at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Because of the Great Depression, she was unable to complete her pharmacy degree, and became a licensed hair stylist and barber in 1938.

Thelma purchased a small private aircraft in 1939 along with a local dentist, Dr. Pitzer. On her first solo flight, her mother fainted after her aircraft had temporarily disappeared under the horizon. This began her aviation career in which she accumulated 382 solo hours in a Cessna - Piper Cub before her aircraft was drafted into military service during World War II.

Despite concern and prejudice regarding females becoming pilots, she sold her hair salon in Nebraska and moved to Texas to train with Miss Love during the early 1940s as a pilot for the purpose of air ferrying B-17 and B-24 bomber aircraft from the Boeing factory to locations in England. Before the completion of her training, however, a physical examination revealed a heart murmur, due to childhood rheumatic fever, which prevented her from ferrying the large aircraft overseas.

Thelma then trained and worked at Boeing in Seattle as an aircraft-drafting designer of B-24s. There she met the late Henry William Birk who was serving in the United States Navy, and they were married in 1945.

She slept very little during the war as she was the night shift manager in a large hair styling salon she co-owned and worked the day shift at Boeing.

After the war she operated a hair salon in her home in Jackson, Mo., which allowed her more time with her new family.

Subsequently, she married the late Oscar William Loos April 30, 1960.

She retired from her business after more than 45 years of hair styling. Thelma had moved to Baton Rouge to live near her son and his family, helping to care for her infant granddaughter.

Because of her love for others, she volunteered at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medial Center, and continued her volunteer work in Midland at MidMichigan Medical Center and at Memorial Presbyterian Church. She was also active in the Eastern Star, Elk Elles, and the Midland Coterie Club.

Thelma is survived by a son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter; Hank Birk, Jenny (Chong) Birk, and Clarissa Birk all of Midland, and relatives in other states, as well as many close friends, including her fellow senior citizens at Riverside Place Apartments, who made this Cornhusker feel so welcome in mid-Michigan.

Funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at Memorial Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Wallace H. Mayton III will officiate, with burial in Midland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler, today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider your local church.

You may share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home or church or through waresmithwoolever.com.