Gedney, Isabelle

Description

Isabelle J Gedney

Isabelle Jane Gedney was born on December 10, 1917, in Rye, New York, her father, Alfred, was 28, and her mother, Edna, was 31. She had two brothers Stanley and Alfred and one sister June. In Rye her family lived at 592 Milton Road and were members of the Presbyterian Church. Isabelle was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1937.

Isabelle enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was a Yeoman 3/c and served with the WAVES in Washington, DC.

Mrs. Sarah Gedney of Milton Road, has had her granddaughter, Yeoman 2/c Isabelle Gedney, W. A. V. E. United States Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve) , with her for a visit. She is a former Rye resident and is now stationed in Washington, D. C.
PAGE EIGHT THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, August 11, 1944

The WAVES served in 900 shore stations in the continental United States. Initially, they were prohibited from serving on ships or outside of the country.

In the U.S. Navy during World War II, a WAVE Yeoman 2/c (Yeoman Second Class) was a female petty officer serving in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) who performed vital administrative and clerical duties to support shore operations. This rating was part of the Naval Reserve, established in 1942 to “free a man for sea” by replacing male personnel in stateside roles.

Isabelle Jane Gedney died on January 24, 2009, in Bronx, New York, at the age of 91.