Elizabeth Gomer, wife of Tuskegee Airman, dies
News Tribune staff
Elizabeth Gomer, the 87-year-old wife of Joe Gomer, one of the first black pilots in the Air Force and a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, died early Sunday morning in Duluth.
The Gomers moved to Duluth in the early 1960s at the end of Gomer's military career. The couple had friends with ties to the Air Force base that operated in the city at that time.
Elizabeth Gomer was an active member of the community, serving on Duluth's city charter commission, as local president of the League of Women Voters, as a member of the Women's Institute and also serving in a number of capacities with the Girl Scouts in Piedmont Heights. She was an active and involved member of Hillside United Methodist Church as well.
"She was so active in the community that for years, people knew me as ‘Elizabeth's husband,' " Joe Gomer mused Sunday.
Joe and Elizabeth Gomer would have celebrated their 64th anniversary in March.
Gomer said he met his wife, who had just graduated from Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology, while he was serving at an Air Force base in Columbus, Ohio. A captain at the time, he found himself at the base hospital with a fever of undetermined origin, and Elizabeth was there, serving as "a gray lady," what folks on the base called volunteer aides because of their uniforms.
Gomer said his wife later told him she decided he was the man she was going to marry on the spot during their first meeting. He noted that when she put her mind to something, it usually
happened.
The Gomers have two daughters, Tanya Rice, 62, and Phyllis, 51, graduates of the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota, respectively.
Elizabeth Gomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1965, and was clear of the disease for 25 years after winning her first bouts with it, her husband said. But a new type of stubborn cancer emerged in recent years. Elizabeth Gomer recently was placed in hospice care and died at 5 a.m. Sunday.
Elizabeth "Liz" Gomer, 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at Ecumen Lake Shore after a courageous fight with cancer.
Liz was born Aug. 20, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio.
She graduated from Ohio State University attaining B.A. degrees in English and Psychology. She married Joseph P. Gomer on March 12, 1949.
Liz was an enthusiastic community activist, a dedicated amateur bowler and enjoyed spending time out in nature. She loved fishing, spending the spring and summer months at River Point Resort in Ely, Minn.
Liz is survived by her husband, Joseph; daughters Tanya (Mike) Rice, and Phyllis (Russ) Douglass; a granddaughter, Ashtyn Douglass; and many special "adopted" family members and friends.
A special thank you to the 2nd floor staff of Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab for the kindness and loving care they provided to Liz during her stay at Lakeshore.
VISITATION: 12 noon until the 2 p.m. memorial service Thursday, Dec. 6 at Hillside United Methodist Church, 1801 Piedmont Ave., Duluth. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab Unit, or the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge in Minneapolis.
News Tribune staff
Elizabeth Gomer, the 87-year-old wife of Joe Gomer, one of the first black pilots in the Air Force and a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, died early Sunday morning in Duluth.
The Gomers moved to Duluth in the early 1960s at the end of Gomer's military career. The couple had friends with ties to the Air Force base that operated in the city at that time.
Elizabeth Gomer was an active member of the community, serving on Duluth's city charter commission, as local president of the League of Women Voters, as a member of the Women's Institute and also serving in a number of capacities with the Girl Scouts in Piedmont Heights. She was an active and involved member of Hillside United Methodist Church as well.
"She was so active in the community that for years, people knew me as ‘Elizabeth's husband,' " Joe Gomer mused Sunday.
Joe and Elizabeth Gomer would have celebrated their 64th anniversary in March.
Gomer said he met his wife, who had just graduated from Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology, while he was serving at an Air Force base in Columbus, Ohio. A captain at the time, he found himself at the base hospital with a fever of undetermined origin, and Elizabeth was there, serving as "a gray lady," what folks on the base called volunteer aides because of their uniforms.
Gomer said his wife later told him she decided he was the man she was going to marry on the spot during their first meeting. He noted that when she put her mind to something, it usually
happened.
The Gomers have two daughters, Tanya Rice, 62, and Phyllis, 51, graduates of the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota, respectively.
Elizabeth Gomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1965, and was clear of the disease for 25 years after winning her first bouts with it, her husband said. But a new type of stubborn cancer emerged in recent years. Elizabeth Gomer recently was placed in hospice care and died at 5 a.m. Sunday.
Elizabeth "Liz" Gomer, 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at Ecumen Lake Shore after a courageous fight with cancer.
Liz was born Aug. 20, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio.
She graduated from Ohio State University attaining B.A. degrees in English and Psychology. She married Joseph P. Gomer on March 12, 1949.
Liz was an enthusiastic community activist, a dedicated amateur bowler and enjoyed spending time out in nature. She loved fishing, spending the spring and summer months at River Point Resort in Ely, Minn.
Liz is survived by her husband, Joseph; daughters Tanya (Mike) Rice, and Phyllis (Russ) Douglass; a granddaughter, Ashtyn Douglass; and many special "adopted" family members and friends.
A special thank you to the 2nd floor staff of Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab for the kindness and loving care they provided to Liz during her stay at Lakeshore.
VISITATION: 12 noon until the 2 p.m. memorial service Thursday, Dec. 6 at Hillside United Methodist Church, 1801 Piedmont Ave., Duluth. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab Unit, or the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge in Minneapolis.
Elizabeth Gomer, wife of Tuskegee Airman, dies
News Tribune staff
Elizabeth Gomer, the 87-year-old wife of Joe Gomer, one of the first black pilots in the Air Force and a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, died early Sunday morning in Duluth.
The Gomers moved to Duluth in the early 1960s at the end of Gomer's military career. The couple had friends with ties to the Air Force base that operated in the city at that time.
Elizabeth Gomer was an active member of the community, serving on Duluth's city charter commission, as local president of the League of Women Voters, as a member of the Women's Institute and also serving in a number of capacities with the Girl Scouts in Piedmont Heights. She was an active and involved member of Hillside United Methodist Church as well.
"She was so active in the community that for years, people knew me as ‘Elizabeth's husband,' " Joe Gomer mused Sunday.
Joe and Elizabeth Gomer would have celebrated their 64th anniversary in March.
Gomer said he met his wife, who had just graduated from Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology, while he was serving at an Air Force base in Columbus, Ohio. A captain at the time, he found himself at the base hospital with a fever of undetermined origin, and Elizabeth was there, serving as "a gray lady," what folks on the base called volunteer aides because of their uniforms.
Gomer said his wife later told him she decided he was the man she was going to marry on the spot during their first meeting. He noted that when she put her mind to something, it usually
happened.
The Gomers have two daughters, Tanya Rice, 62, and Phyllis, 51, graduates of the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota, respectively.
Elizabeth Gomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1965, and was clear of the disease for 25 years after winning her first bouts with it, her husband said. But a new type of stubborn cancer emerged in recent years. Elizabeth Gomer recently was placed in hospice care and died at 5 a.m. Sunday.
Elizabeth "Liz" Gomer, 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at Ecumen Lake Shore after a courageous fight with cancer.
Liz was born Aug. 20, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio.
She graduated from Ohio State University attaining B.A. degrees in English and Psychology. She married Joseph P. Gomer on March 12, 1949.
Liz was an enthusiastic community activist, a dedicated amateur bowler and enjoyed spending time out in nature. She loved fishing, spending the spring and summer months at River Point Resort in Ely, Minn.
Liz is survived by her husband, Joseph; daughters Tanya (Mike) Rice, and Phyllis (Russ) Douglass; a granddaughter, Ashtyn Douglass; and many special "adopted" family members and friends.
A special thank you to the 2nd floor staff of Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab for the kindness and loving care they provided to Liz during her stay at Lakeshore.
VISITATION: 12 noon until the 2 p.m. memorial service Thursday, Dec. 6 at Hillside United Methodist Church, 1801 Piedmont Ave., Duluth. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab Unit, or the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge in Minneapolis.
News Tribune staff
Elizabeth Gomer, the 87-year-old wife of Joe Gomer, one of the first black pilots in the Air Force and a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, died early Sunday morning in Duluth.
The Gomers moved to Duluth in the early 1960s at the end of Gomer's military career. The couple had friends with ties to the Air Force base that operated in the city at that time.
Elizabeth Gomer was an active member of the community, serving on Duluth's city charter commission, as local president of the League of Women Voters, as a member of the Women's Institute and also serving in a number of capacities with the Girl Scouts in Piedmont Heights. She was an active and involved member of Hillside United Methodist Church as well.
"She was so active in the community that for years, people knew me as ‘Elizabeth's husband,' " Joe Gomer mused Sunday.
Joe and Elizabeth Gomer would have celebrated their 64th anniversary in March.
Gomer said he met his wife, who had just graduated from Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology, while he was serving at an Air Force base in Columbus, Ohio. A captain at the time, he found himself at the base hospital with a fever of undetermined origin, and Elizabeth was there, serving as "a gray lady," what folks on the base called volunteer aides because of their uniforms.
Gomer said his wife later told him she decided he was the man she was going to marry on the spot during their first meeting. He noted that when she put her mind to something, it usually
happened.
The Gomers have two daughters, Tanya Rice, 62, and Phyllis, 51, graduates of the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota, respectively.
Elizabeth Gomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1965, and was clear of the disease for 25 years after winning her first bouts with it, her husband said. But a new type of stubborn cancer emerged in recent years. Elizabeth Gomer recently was placed in hospice care and died at 5 a.m. Sunday.
Elizabeth "Liz" Gomer, 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at Ecumen Lake Shore after a courageous fight with cancer.
Liz was born Aug. 20, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio.
She graduated from Ohio State University attaining B.A. degrees in English and Psychology. She married Joseph P. Gomer on March 12, 1949.
Liz was an enthusiastic community activist, a dedicated amateur bowler and enjoyed spending time out in nature. She loved fishing, spending the spring and summer months at River Point Resort in Ely, Minn.
Liz is survived by her husband, Joseph; daughters Tanya (Mike) Rice, and Phyllis (Russ) Douglass; a granddaughter, Ashtyn Douglass; and many special "adopted" family members and friends.
A special thank you to the 2nd floor staff of Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab for the kindness and loving care they provided to Liz during her stay at Lakeshore.
VISITATION: 12 noon until the 2 p.m. memorial service Thursday, Dec. 6 at Hillside United Methodist Church, 1801 Piedmont Ave., Duluth. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to Ecumen Lakeshore Rehab Unit, or the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge in Minneapolis.
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