W6BDE - March 13, 1998

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Director 1983 - 1990 Esther Irwin Given Sebastopol, CA QCWA # 7434 Chapters 11 & 120 Born 25 December, 1911 Northern CA Ch 11 Director

Ham radio columnist Esther I. Given, W6BDE, of Sebastopol, California, died March 13, 1998. She was 86. A New Jersey native raised and educated in Colorado, Given enlisted in the military in 1942 and became a high-speed radio operator. She was one of only 14 WACs especially trained for sea duty, and served as the chief radio operator aboard the US Army hospital ship Chateau Thierry.

She was licensed in 1946 and later became a director of the Quarter Century Wireless Association. For many years was a columnist for the QCWA Journal and for Worldradio. In 1991 she received a Distinguished Service Award.

Memorial contributions are welcome to the YLRL Scholarship Fund, c/o Marte Wessel, Route 1, Box 73, Liberal, KS 67901.