Blog - Packard Rosies on the Homefront

byKim Parr/October 31, 2024

The Dawn of a Global Conflict

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, leading France and Great Britain to declare war against Germany. Thus began WWII.

America was hesitant to get involved after suffering many losses during the Great War, enduring the Spanish Flu, and still struggling through the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, did not want our allies to go without support. British factories were being bombed and their air fleet was being depleted faster than they could replace them.

After Ford declined Rolls-Royce’s request to build the Merlin aircraft engine, Packard Motor stepped up to FDR’s request to become an Arsenal of Democracy. Packard had the ability for mass production and began the production of the Merlin on July 20, 1941. The Packard-built engine was designated the V-1650.

Six months after production started the United State’s military installation at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked. Thus ended our isolation from the war. Packard went all out on war production.

Women on the Home Front

Many of Packard Motor’s able-bodied men left to serve in the military. Thankfully, women stepped up and out of their homes to support the war effort. More than six million women across the United States worked in factories during the war. Packard Motor employed over 9,000 women to help build the Rolls-Royce Merlin Aircraft engine and the Patrol Torpedo boat engine.

This photo shows the last Packard Eight Touring Sedan coming off of the production line before Packard went fully into war production. A total of 6,085 Packards were produced in 1942.

Packard also had a contract to build the U.S. Navy Patrol Torpedo boat engines. By the end of the war, Packard had built 12,700 4m 2500 PT engines.

The Merlin engine was not only used in fighter planes but also in some tanks and was often called “the engine that won the war.” This being said, what would have happened if women did not do their bit to help build these engines? How many more lives would have been lost? How much longer would the war have lingered on? Who would have won?

Packard Proving Grounds’ Contribution

The Packard Proving Grounds served its duty during the war by becoming a Tank Testing Ground. The building that now serves as our museum was built during the war for testing tanks. With our goal of being included in Michigan’s WWII Historic Trail , the Packard Proving Ground is proud to honor the Packard women who worked hard and used their smarts to make the best engines they could. The only credit they sought was to get their boys home. Today, we recognize that these women should receive credit, and our Rosie Memorial Garden is part of a nationwide effort to tell this important story.

Packard Motor was smart to recognize the incredible talent they hired. They set up suggestion boxes with the hopes that their pooled genius would come up with quicker, safer, and better ways of making their engines. This is how the “Work to Win” program was started. This program recognized the contributions that Packard employees made toward the war effort.

It is through this effort that we found the Rosies who we honored at our Rosie Memorial Garden ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 22, 2024.

Remembering Rosies

The day started in the Repair Garage with a display of Rosie the Riveter information and fun photo opportunities. I was proud to announce the women we were honoring in the Rosie Garden.

Kim Parr (top left)

Rosie Luncheon Display

Honoring Packard Rosies

Speaker and ARRA representative, Debra Wake.

Kim Parr had the honor of cutting the ribbon during the ceremony.

Debra Wake and Bette Kenward unveiling the garden’s bronze plaque.

Maureen Ailor, Regent of the General Josiah Harmar Chaper of the NSDAR with DAR member, Maggie Reichling.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and thereafter listened to a wonderful program titled “Heroes on the Homefront” with speaker and representative of the American Rosie the Riveter Association, Debra Wake. It was an honor to have two representatives of the American Rosie the Riveter Association with us. Debra Wake and Bette Kenward, VP of Expansion, helped reveal the garden’s bronze plaque during the ceremony after Debra’s wonderful presentation.

“These roses honor the legacy of the women who made history on our Home Front during WWII. Their ingenious efforts were recognized by Packard Motor Car Company’s “Work to Win” program. They are part of a national “Living Memorial” to inspire a new generation of 21st-century Rosies. Generously sponsored by General Josiah Harmer Chapter, NSDAR, Old Settlers VFW Post 4659, Packard Motor Car Foundation.”

National Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose Garden Plaque

The Packard Rosies

Click on a Rosie below to learn more about their contribution to the war effort.

Helen Filipiak Endykewicz Edna Ramsey Ledford Jane Hitchcock Luksik Helen Apfel Riley Virginia Adams Levy Martha Carlson Oren Bernice Palmer June Tolan More Rosies

The VFW’s chaplain, Bob Bartowski, helped to reveal the marker for Helen Filipiak Endykewicz and also gave their prayer before the luncheon.

Helen was noted in the following newspaper articles for her template gauge invention and contributions to the war effort.

June 14, 1944 – Detroit Free Press article covering Edna’s contribution to the Work to Win effort.

Edna Ledford Detroit Free Press - June 14, 1944

Packard Proving Grounds logistics coordinator, Christina Dolby-Criger had the honor of revealing the marker of Edna Ramsey Ledford. Edna’s granddaughter, Susan Lunsford, was unable to attend the event, but drove up to Michigan a few months ago from Tennessee to provide the photo of her grandmother for her marker.

Jane’s son, Roger, unveiling her memorial marker.

The marker for Jane Hitchcock Luksik was revealed by her son, Roger Luksik, who is a volunteer and former Packard Motor Car Foundation Trustee. He proudly holds onto the Work to Win pin that was awarded to her. A photo of this pin is included on her marker.

Roger Luksik also revealed the marker for his mother’s coworker and best friend Helen Apfel Riley. Roger lovingly refers to her as his aunt for she was truly like family to him and his family. His aunt’s marker includes a photo of her behind the wheel of a Packard automobile.

Photo of Virginia working in a Packard office shared by Packard historian A.J. Balfour. Balfour has documented thousands of Packard employees.

The marker of Virginia Adams Levy was revealed by Packard Proving Grounds Event Coordinator, Tina Volrich.

We are proud to hold his ever growing collection of documented workers within our Packard Proving Grounds archive. Mr. Balfour also is noted for his book titled More Than Automobiles; The Packards of Warren Ohio. Virginia’s personal history was tricky to find due to her having changed her maiden name from Cechovacki to Adams.

Martha’s son, Robert Oren, unveiling his mother’s Rosie memorial marker.

We were delighted to find the son of Martha Carlson Oren who received great press by Packard and the news for her contributions to the war effort. She was personally thanked by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the Packard plant in Detroit.

Martha’s son, Robert Oren, not only revealed his mother’s marker but shared many wonderful photographs of her with us. Due to the plethora of information and photographs about his mother a separate blog is being written in her honor.

We were further blessed to find the grandson and great-grandson of another impressive Rosie; Bernice Palmer. Her grandson, Todd Palmer, proudly revealed her marker during the ceremony.

Bernice Palmer’s many contributions to the war effort made national news and was noted in the May issue of Life Magazine in 1943.

Todd Palmer shared a copy of Bernice Palmer’s Commendation for Production Idea that was issued to her from the War Production Board in Washington, D.C.

Bernice’s great-grandson, Tyler Palmer, was thrilled to learn all about his great-grandmother’s important contributions to the war effort. We were so happy to make her family proud and able to share her story with generations to come.

Father and son; Todd and Tyler Palmer

Bernice’s grandson, Todd Palmer, unveiling her marker at the Rosie Garden Memorial.

The marker for June Tolan was revealed by Packard Proving Grounds volunteer Elena Olivieri who also helped plan the details for this special event. Elena made the beautiful centerpieces for the luncheon and embroidered the beautiful Rosie patches for the marker’s veiling.

Note about June Tolan receiving the Double Wings Award in 1945 was found in The Michigan Chronicle. The article talks about the contributions that the black community were making for the war effort at Packard.

June’s brother, Thomas Edward “Eddie” Tolan III, was famous in his day. He was known as “The World’s Fastest Human”. He played football and ran track between the years of 1927 and 1931 at the University of Michigan. He then ran for the U.S. Track and Field Team during the Summer Olympics of 1932. He was inducted into the U of M Athletic Hall of Honor in 1980, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1958.

June donated his track shoes and other family items to the collection of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. June clearly appreciated the preservation of history but was, most likely, too humble to document her own history of being an award-winning Packard Rosie. We are thankful to have found the news article about her that was printed in 1945. The news article mentions that she sang in Packard’s Glee Club. We would love to find photos of this club and continue to document more Packard Rosies.

These Packard Rosies were discovered after the dedication deadline had passed but wanted to share their stories, nonetheless. We hope to include them in a future dedication ceremony.

Sue Bramble

After planning who to honor in our Rosie Memorial Garden further research revealed Sue Bramble in the advertisement posted here below. The Packard ad notes the incredible importance of her role as inspector of vital parts for the Rolls Royce Merlin Aircraft Engine.

Dorothy Evelyn Ochadeus Brown Hamlin Beal

We were delighted to learn about another Packard Rosie, Dorothy Evelyn Ochadeus Brown Hamlin Beal, from her daughter, Barbara Pilka. Barbara heard about our Rosie Memorial Garden event and visited our Packard Proving Grounds to share her mother’s story. Her mother laid electrical wiring for the Warhawk fighter plane.

Barbara shared photos of her mother with the Packard Bowling Club that she participated in. Ironically, Roger Luksik also shared one of the same bowling league photos when helping us to document his mother and aunt for the garden. All three of these ladies were friends. We are thrilled that our garden project helped connect Roger with Barbara.

Continuing the Legacy

If you have any documentation to share about a Packard Rosie we would love to hear from you. We hope to continue to find more Packard Rosies to expand our garden and help tell the story of Packard women who contributed to the war effort.