Ethel Eileen Blakely

The oldest of three, she was born October 21, 1923 in Orrville, Ohio to Peter Russel Horner and Effie Leona (Schneck) Horner. She was “Eileen” to her friends.

She was educated in public schools in Ohio and graduated from McKinley High School, Canton, Ohio in 1941.

In 1944, Eileen joined the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service). She went to boot camp at Hunter College, Bronx, New York, then to Yeoman School at Cedar Falls, Iowa. After graduating as a Yeoman Second Class in June of 1944, she was stationed in Washington D.C.

Eileen was assigned to the Bureau of Ships, in the Technical Engineering section, as a member of the “Flying Squadron.”

Her most exciting job during that duty was her assignment to Rear Echelon, Joint Task Force One, Operation Crossroads, which was the name of the Bikini Atom Blast project. She had the responsibility of processing orders to the USS WHARTON for seamen, officers, and civilians.

In 1946 she sent in her application for release from the Navy, since the GI bill was available for her to attend college. Eileen enrolled in Kent State University and graduated in 1953.

She was interested in Navy Activities, after being in the WAVES, and joined the Naval Reserve Training Unit in Canton, Ohio. She was on Volunteer Status. When the Korean Conflict broke out in June of 1950, she happened to be at the Station when the Commander of the Unit came and ordered the duty personnel to put on side arms.

Rumors circulated the WAVES were being called up to active duty on the East Coast stations. She enlisted for a volunteer 2-year hitch. Eileen was ordered to Philadelphia to await further orders, and then sent to Washington, DC, where she worked in Public Relations.

At this time she met Walter Earl Blakely. He was a Chief Boatswain’s Mate in the US Navy. They had a whirlwind courtship and married August 16, 1952 in Canton, Ohio. They lived in Washington D.C., and Walter retired from the Navy in 1953, after 20 years of service. In February 1953 Eileen was discharged from her 2-year obligation. Her active duty with the US Navy covered five years.

After leaving the Navy, Eileen and Walter moved to Clarkston, WA. They lived there for five years, and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon in 1958.

After moving to Grants Pass, Eileen worked for the Siskiyou National Forest for 25 years, in the engineering section at the Supervisor’s Office, retiring in 1986; she was known for her attention to detail. Eileen was a long time member at Grants Pass Family YMCA, Navy Fleet Reserve Grants Pass Unit # 68, NARFE Washington DC Unit # 261, and Pacific Northwest Forest Service Association (Old Smokey’s). She was a member of the Kidron (Ohio) Historical Society, and Rascal Computer Club. She was a member of the Hi-Lo Club, and also a member of the Rogue Roundup Committee for 40 years (Al Anon, WSD Panel # 26).

Eileen was a Charter Member of Calvary Lutheran Church, and in 1972 Eileen became a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Eileen was featured in a documentary released in 2014: Homefront Heroines, The WAVES of WWII (available on Amazon).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Blakely, in 1997, and her brother Jack Horner, in 2018. She is survived by brother Robert Horner of Laguna Woods, CA, and nieces Marcy Green, Marilyn Hainsworth, Terrie Raasch, and Colette Gallagher.