Geraldine Chiles, 91, passed away on Sept. 20, 2012 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.
She was born on Jan. 30, 1921 in Burkburnett, Texas. She attended college in north Texas and obtained a bachelor’s degree. Later, she earned a master’s degree from Columbia University.
She joined the WAAC in January 1943. In August 1943 WAAC became WAC. After VJ Day she was sent to China and worked for three months in Shanghai. Then she was promoted to tech sergeant and sent to Beijing, where she became a master sergeant as chief clerk in the office of the chief of staff. The work of the three power teams working for agreement between the Nationalists and Communists proved futile and the WAC personnel were ordered out of there by General Marshall.
In March 1947, they were taken under air cover to the ice cutter that took them to the ship to come home. By coincidence, the man she was destined to marry was also working in Shanghai during the period she was in China. In 1947, she mustered out of the army and was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency and assigned to Vienna, Austria where she met Dawson. She later had tours of duty in Berlin and Munich. On March 4, 1961, she and Dawson were married in Nocona, Texas.
Surviving is her husband of 51 happy years, Dawson W. Chiles of the home.
At Geraldine’s request, there will be no service.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.