Rose Garden to Recognize North Texas ‘Rosie the Riveters’ for War Contributions

Posted on July 19, 2019

FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)- Meet Wilda Stephens…she’s a 97-year-old Fort Worth resident, and had a hand in making history for women. She was a ‘Riveter’. At only 18 years old, instead of going back to college right away, she had another opportunity to fill jobs left from men off to serve during World War 2.

“Everyone was going back to Fort Worth to be the Riveters…they said come on Wilda let’s go…so I decided to go with them,” Stephens said.

Stephens went to Consolidated Aircraft Corporations Sheets and Metals school where she learned a new trade and helped to produce supplies for the war. “I think that I worked on the very first wing on the big 24’s that came out of the plant there,” Stephens said.

Now, Stephens and all the other ‘Rosies’ are being recognized for their contributions to the war, right here in North Texas.
Leslie Garvis President of the American Rosie the Riveter Fort Worth Chapter plans to collect a list of all the local ‘Rosies’ in North Texas and honor them with a rose garden. “One thing that came out of this that’s so important to me is their work and what they did opened so many doors for all of us as women in business and what we can accomplish,” said Garvis.

The group plans to open the rose garden by March 21st at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth. “We have a plan to put the names of all the local Rosies around the base to hold the roses and capture their stories and educate the public what they did right here in Fort Worth,” said Garvis.

Fort Worth Vintage Flying Museum Director Chuckie Hospers says the museum all started in 1979. Now, they have over 25 air crafts, they’re rare and can still fly. “We are so excited to have World War 2 air crafts here at the museum and that’s why it’s so fitting to have the Rosie the Riveter Garden here because they’re the ones who built them,” said Hospers.

With the community’s support and fundraising the group plans for this to be more than just a rose garden. The museum plans to use Aviation and STEM in the classroom by incorporating the rose Garden in the curriculum to promote the history of Rosie the Riveters.

This idea is something that hits close to home for our local Rosie, Stephens. She said she’s grateful to have been able to make a difference and hopefully inspire young girls to work hard and dream big. “In three years I’ll be 100 years old,” Stephens said.” I just feel fortunate and grateful to be here and I think it’s wonderful that they are recognizing us,” she said.

For more information on how you an donate to the garden or volunteer click here