Lt. Dorothy Gregory-Watkins

Lt. Dorothy Gregory-Watkins (1918-2014). Her cemetery marker says it all. In this month of honoring Veterans, I felt it only fitting to honor the “Veterans” who got little attention in WWII. Lt. Dorothy Gregory was among one of the best and we are honored to have her resting in Cold Springs Cemetery. At an early age Dorothy had the curiosity of flying. In her late teens she had the adventurous desire, which took her on a 2 month bike tour through Mexico. She spoke both locally and nationally at many engagements on this adventure and hosteling in the U.S. and Mexico. As an adult she certainly had the determination, in a man’s world. She served seven years as a member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and Pilot and earned the title of Lieutenant. She had received not only a pilot’s license in 1942, but a commercial pilot’s license after WWII. Dorothy also spoke publicly on her experiences in the field of aviation. Even once talking about how in 1948 she flew to her family reunion and being able to land in a nearby wheat field. In January of 2017, Dorothy went on to posthumously receive the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal for her services in WWII.
For those of you who do not know, CAP membership does not equate to membership in the military. CAP is a private, non-profit humanitarian organization, which is the OFFICIAL AUXILIARY of the United States Air Force. Therefore, they do not get the title of Miliary Veteran. That is a shame. The Civil Air Patrol in WWII kept everything going on the home front. During WWII, Dorothy was part of local search-and-rescue missions as well as patrols on the Great Lakes in icy conditions to make sure shipping lanes were open for the travel of war supplies. She represented the Civil Air Patrol at encampments, parades and other events during the war. On Independence Day in 1944, she even demonstrated a Bell helicopter at the Buffalo Civic Center in front of 42,000 spectators.
Dorothy, daughter of Erle and Gertrude Gregory, was all this. In 1949, she became the wife of Lloyd Watkins who was a of WWII U.S. Army Sergeant and the recipient of the Purple Heart. Dorothy then went on to have the distinct honor of being the loving mother of 8. On Christmas Day, 2014 at the age of 96, Dorothy left behind all these adventures, life accomplishments and memories. Dorothy’s beautiful monument is located in Section 1 on Lot 121.​  See Facebook for Photos of Lt. Dorothy Gregory-Watkins