[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF MARION ALICE FALKNER GASH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Marion Alice Falkner Gash, who passed away on July 31, 2013, two weeks 
before her 100th birthday. She had an exceptional spirit with an ``I-
can-do-it'' attitude. Marion inspired others through her military 
service, professional achievements, excellence in teaching, support of 
her community, and devotion to family and friends.
  Marion Alice Falkner was born at her family's Germania Farm in Yazoo 
County, Mississippi on August 14, 1913. She was born to Marion and 
Minniealice Falkner and was the eldest of seven children. Marion 
graduated from Hinds Junior College in Raymond, Mississippi and 
continued onto Maryville College in Tennessee to obtain her teaching 
credential. After graduation, Marion taught for six years in Bentonia, 
Mississippi. In 1940, she moved to New Orleans to attend Soule Business 
College and worked for attorney John Minor Wisdom who later became a 
judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
  Shortly after Congress declared war, Marion moved to Washington, D.C. 
to serve her country. She worked at the Pentagon in the Office of the 
Budget of the War Department. In 1943, she joined the Navy WAVES and 
rose to the rank of Lieutenant J.G., serving as the Administrative 
Officer to Admiral W.K. Romoser, Commander of the Naval Training School 
in Hollywood, Florida.
  In 1946, Marion married Navy Lt. Russell Warner Gash, and they raised 
two sons, Frank and Warner. At the time, Navy policy did not allow 
female officers to have children so Marion reluctantly resigned her 
commission and assumed the role of navy wife for the rest of Russell's 
naval career. Over the next 15 years, the family moved to eight duty 
stations in six different states and Cuba. In 1961, the family settled 
in Fresno, California, and Mrs. Gash returned to teaching.
  Mrs. Gash taught English and speech, directed plays, coached debate 
teams, and established a forensics program at Central Union High 
School. While working full time, she earned her Master's degree in 
education at California State University, Fresno in 1967. After 
retiring in 1978, she continued to volunteer in school, church, 
military, veterans and community activities. Mrs. Gash was a great 
teacher who positively affected the lives of thousands of students.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Marion Alice 
Falkner Gash, a veteran of World War II and a beloved mother, 
grandmother, aunt, teacher, and friend.

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