Dorothy Rungeling, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetDorothy Rungeling
Early Canadian commercial pilot
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Canada
About Dorothy Rungeling
- Dorothy Wetherald Rungeling (May 12, 1911 – February 17, 2018) was a Canadian pilot from Fenwick, Ontario hailed as one of Canada’s most experienced air racers.
- She was the adopted daughter of Ethelwyn Wetherald, the Canadian poet and journalist.
- In 2004, Dorothy published a collection of her mother’s writing, "Life and Works of Ethelwyn Wetherald 1857-1940" (Ridgeville, Ont, 2004, D.
- Rungeling).
- Dorothy is also known for own her writing as a published author and Aviation Editor for the Evening Tribune, Welland and won an Aviation Writers Award at the 1953 AITA convention.
- Before venturing into flying, Dorothy also trained and showed horses and wrote a series of instructions for fellow trainers.As a pilot, she participated in Canadian and International Aviation competitions including: All Women’s International Air Races, the Women’s Transcontinental Air Races, and the Canadian Governor-General’s Cup Air Race.
- Once she received her private pilot licence, she joined the Ninety-Nines (worldwide organization of female pilots formed in 1929).
- She also worked to make Welland an air-marking and it is believed to be the first air-marking in Canada.
- She worked in politics, and in 1964 she became the first woman to serve on Pelham town council. In 2003, she received the Order of Canada for her accomplishments as a female pilot, which include receiving her pilot’s licence, commercial licence, instructor’s certification, and senior commercial pilot’s licence.
- A commemorative stamp was issued in honour of Dorothy Rungeling, the first woman to solo a helicopter, on her 99th birthday.
- She turned 100 in May 2011.
- Dorothy continued her writing in a column for The Voice of Pelham entitled Viewpoints.
- She wrote her last article for the publication in February 2013 at the age of 101.
- In 2015, when Rungeling was 104, the Niagara Central Airport was renamed Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport following consent of Bill 20.Dorothy Rungeling died at a nursing home in Fonthill, Ontario on February 17, 2018 at the age of 106.
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