WWII Women’s Army Corps Vet Dies at 91

The following obituary is courtesy of Vander Plaat Funeral Home.

Shirley Gay Lake, 91, embarked on her final (and greatest) journey on November 29, 2013 from the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff.

Born in Brooklyn, NY she attended White Plains High School and the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial College, and afterwards took a clerical job at the Exxon Corporation in Florham Park.

When World War II broke out, Shirley enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) and served with General MacArthur’s army in the Philippines, attaining the rank of Corporal. After being honorably discharged, Shirley returned to Exxon and worked for the company until taking retirement after she moved to Wyckoff.

Always a passionate traveler, she spent the next fifty years visiting over 100 countries located on all seven continents of this globe. She loved golf, reading mysteries, gardening, taking long walks, bowling, and enjoyed the company of her many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her brothers: John and Jonathan Lake. Survivors include her sister Joan Lake Hacker of Wyckoff. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 from 4 p.m. until service time at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. The funeral service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Old Southeast Church Cemetery in Brewster, NY.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Women’s Memorial Foundation at Arlington Cemetery 1 Memorial Ave, Arlington, VA 22211.