Margaret Ruth (Kowald) (Sharp) Kowald     1932-

 

Born:   April 8, 1932 in Milwaukee. Wisconsin

Currently living in Anchorage, Alaska 

 

Spouse:          Elmer Eugene “Gene” Sharp, from Charlotte, Michigan, m. 10/18, 1974, divorced 5/12/1987.  Gene is a retired Master Sergeant from the U. S. Air Force.  After retirement he  worked for the State of Alaska as a correctional officer.

Children:         None.

 

Occupation:   U. S. Air Force

Atlantic Richfield Co, Alaska Division (ARCo, AK). 

Certified Pilot (Though she does not consider herself to a bush pilot.)

 

Father’s name:          Archibald Ferdinand Kowald                       Birth place:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mother’s name:         Frances Josephine (Brooks) Kowald         Birth place:  Appleton, Wisconsin

Siblings:         Barbara (Kowald) Williams

                        Roger Brooks Kowald

                       

Margaret enlisted in the U. S. Air Force 8/28/1950.  Her duty assignment was squadron supply specialist.  After over 22 years in the service, she retired 11/1/1972 at the rank of Master Sergeant.  Margaret was a distinguished graduate of the military air transport service senior NCO academy, finishing in the top 10% of her class.  During those 22 years, Margaret was stationed at:

  • Lowry AFB, Denver, CO, USA
  • Mitchell Field, Hempstead, NY, USA
  • Tokyo, Japan, received commendation medal for this assignment.
  • Norton AFB, San Bernardino, CA, USA
  • Manhattan Beach Air Force Station, New York, NY, USA
  • Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL, USA
  • Lackland AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
  • Back to Lowry AFB in Denver
  • Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK, USA

 

While at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, Margaret took flying lessons at a civilian airport.  She was certified by the FAA to pilot airplanes, single engine, over land, with additional certificates received for: Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument Rated, and Ground Instructor with an advanced rating.  She used these skills after retirement from the U. S. Air Force by becoming a ground school instructor for 3 years.  Margaret has logged over 1300 hours of flight time.

 

Margaret then went to work for the Atlantic Richfield Company, Alaska Division (ARCo AK) as a payroll specialist.  She did this for 19 years and retired on 6/1/1999 when the company was purchased by British Petroleum (BP).

 

If you are confused by the way I wrote her name at the top of the page, let me try to explain.  Margaret’s maiden name is Kowald, then she used her husband’s name Sharp.  Recently, in 2007, Margaret petitioned the court to take back the last name of Kowald, which was approved.  It should also be noted that she was named after her mother’s 2 sisters, Helen Margaret Brooks and Eunice Ruth Brooks.  Mother Francis taking the middle names and creating Margaret Ruth.

 

Margaret loves her dachshund Rebel, who isn’t afraid of the moose, like this small yearling, that frequent her yard.

 

    

 

            Photo found in mother Frances’ papers, dated June 8, 1934.

An almost 4 years old Roger with his younger sister Margaret. 

(The whole thing was posed, courtesy of Babyland Studios.)

 

 

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