COLORADO NINETY-NINES New Horizons

2010

Aviation and business entrepreneur Velda King Mapelli, 83 was killed by a cyclist while walking on a trail near her home in Renton, Washington. Both the cyclist and Mapelli were knocked unconscious. Mapelli succumbed to her catastrophic injuries on Monday, April 19. 2010.

Mapelli was best known for her record setting 7-year Presidency of The Air Race Classic.

With respect to her flying accomplishments, Velda became the corporate pilot to facilitate the family meat-packing business. With only six percent of the pilots being women, she soon joined The Ninety-Nines, the women’s pilot organization and discovered pilot-skilled cross country speed air racing. Racing brought her a lifelong friendship with Marion Jayne, ATP, Hall of Fame enshrinee and 100 Aviation Hero for the First Century of Flight.

Mapelli, together with Jayne and five other pilots, founded the Air Race Classic, the all-women cross country speed race which replaced the 1929-1976 All Women Transcontinental Air Race a.k.a. the Powder Puff Derby - although, anyone who has competed in a transcontinental race of any variety would call powder-puff a misnomer.

Her elegant, polished style was complimented by her athletic grace and consummate organizational skills. Her business talent brought the women’s race its first and still the most lucrative corporate sponsor with the years the event was known as the Hughes Airwest Air Race Classic.

Mapelli’s personal plane started out as a 260 Comanche N9071P that echoed her owner’s stellar style with meticulous maintenance. Sadly, the 260 was lost when the shop it was in while it waited for the overhauled engine burned. A classy Cessna 414 replaced the vibrant Comanche until Velda hung up her headset for the last time.

2009

Joye Baker - March 7, 1940 – May 29, 2009

Joye (Smith) Baker passed away suddenly while at home in Northglenn, Colorado on Friday May 29, 2009.  She was born in Springfield, Ohio on March 7, 1940. She spent most of her life enjoying adventures in Colorado . She graduated from Canon City High School in Colorado 1958 and was involved in ROTC and band.  She married Dr. John C. Baker on Oct. 14, 1960 and they had two children, Jill (Baker) Lafferty and John A. Baker.  She was the business manager for her husband’s family practice for many years.

In the 70’s she earned her private pilots license and quickly received her instrument and commercial licenses as well.  She joined the 99s in 1972 and was very active for many years and was the Colorado Chapter’s Chairman in the 70’s. She flew several air races and learned to fly aerobatics. Throughout her flying history she flew more than 30 different types of aircraft from a tiny Mooney Mite to a large DeHavilland Beaver and everything in between.

In 1980 they moved to Ouray, Colorado and she received her real estate license and sold property in the area for several years.  Later they returned to Denver and bought a 27’ Norsea sailboat and sailed it down the inland waterway and across to the Bahamas , quite a feat for her as she was really afraid of water.  She overcame that fear and took her night watches on the pitch black ocean.  She also enjoyed driving their 1915 Model T Ford. She was an avid skier and loved to ski with her grandchildren. She was always curious, adventurous and kind, she’ll leave a huge void in our lives.  As per her wishes, there was no funeral or services. 

2005

Gladys Hill: A Quiet Pioneer - October 30, 1910 – May 17, 2005

Gladys Hill learned to fly in 1933 in a 40 horsepower Taylor Cub at the age of 23, and got her license in 1937. She flew for one season with the Tex Rankin Hollywood Aces air show in the central and western part of the United States. Gladys joined the Wings Club, a women’s pilot organization in 1937, before the 99s had a chapter in Colorado. She was one of the Colorado chapter’s charter members and installed the first officers of the Colorado 99s in 1938.She became good friends with another Colorado aviatrix, Donna (Tracy) Myers. At one time, Donna and Gladys were the only two licensed women pilots in a five state area. She passed away on May 17, 2005 at the age of 94.

2004

Barbara B. Hobson - April 5, 1937- February 19, 2004
Barb passed away on February 19, 2004. She had been a member of the chapter since 1979. She held the office of Chairman in 1982-1983. She was born in St. Peter, Minnesota and belonged to a flying club there as well as the Colorado 99s.

2003

Patricia "Sam" Udall - 1926-2003
Pat passed away on September 14, 2003. She had been a member of the chapter since 1985. 

2002

Jane Ormsby Stevens - May 15, 1927 - September 19, 2002
Jane passed away on September 19, 2002 in San Diego, CA. She had been a member of the chapter since 1977. She owned a 1940 TaylorCraft, which she had rebuilt. The plane was named "Phoebe" after Phoebe Omlie. She and Jane Ruhle flew "Phoebe" in the Commerative Powder Puff Derby in 1977 from Palm Springs, CA to Tampa, FL, and was the only entrant to complete the race in an antique airplane.

2001

Lu Purdy

2000

Mary Jane McKillip - May 15, 1935 - November 14, 2000
Mary Jane McKillip, 65 of Fraser, CO and Rio Verde, AZ, died November 14, 2000. Mary had been a member of the Colorado Chapter for many years and was very active in our Mile High Air Derby. Before she came to Colorado in 1980, she had been in several other chapters around the country. She was born in McCook, NE. 

1999

Eddie Elizabeth Meetze Whistle - March 21, 1926 - 1999
Air Racer and Round-the-World flyer. Eddie joined the 99s in 1980. She was killed in an crash following at air race. Her husband, Paul, also died in the crash.

1982

Eugenia Rothrack "Deedo" Heise - ?? - July 24, 1982
Eugenia joined the 99s in 1946 with the Wisconsin Chapter. She was International President 1959-1961. She moved to Colorado and joined the Colorado Chapter in 1969. Her husband, Dr. Herman Heise, founded the Flying Physicians in 1955. They created a home movie of Deedo "learning" to fly, entitled "Flighty Lady."

unknown

Donna Tracy Myers - March 22, 1915 - ??
Donna joined the 99s in 1939. Her husband John was one of the founders of the original Frontier Airlines. She was International President 1967-1969.

For further information, contact the Colorado 99s Webmaster

Last Updated: 28 April, 2010

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