Page 56 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

Alivira Agee
fter a visit with 90-year-old
Alvira Agee, it’s easy to see
Athat she could do anything
she put her mind to. Alvira
developed a “can do” attitude
beginning with her childhood on a
farm that “raised kids and wheat”.
During WWII she recalls collecting
scrap iron to donate to the war
effort. She said “after President
Roosevelt called it a ‘day of
infamy’, it was a scary time in our
country. Everyone was trying to
do their part.”
After high school, Alvira became
a Registered Nurse. In 1951
she wanted to “do more” for
her country. Going against the
conventional wisdom of the time,
she joined the U.S. Air Force.
She thought “I can do that” and
besides, “I wanted to see the
world.” After enlisting as a 2nd
Lieutenant, she was “put right to
work in a hospital at Larson Air
Force Base in Washington.”
56 Lubbock Senior Link
“I Can Do That!”
Her career took her to Ft. and an Army veteran who devoted
Sam Houston in San Antonio his life to serving others. She was
after she convinced her also influenced by an older brother
commanding officer that “I who served in the Army during
was interested in Psychiatry.” WWII in the Philippines. He is
Alvira thought, “I can do now 91 and lives with Alvira’s
that.” She was transferred to sister in Wyoming.
Sheppard Air Force Base in
Wichita Falls for training in
when she was sent to an air “ she became a “jack
Neuropsychiatry. Her wish
to “see the world” began
base near Bordeaux, France. of all trades, doing
Because Alvira wasn’t afraid everything from
to try anything, she became clerical [work] to
a “jack of all trades, doing delivering babies to
everything from clerical assisting in surgery.
[work] to delivering babies to
assisting in surgery.” “
The young officer was sent
to Roswell Air Force Base where This phenomenal woman has
she met and married Charlie Agee, overcome many health challenges
a medic and ambulance driver
including arthritis, gallbladder
from Rush Springs, Oklahoma. surgery and a heart attack, but
The couple was soon transferred she attributes her full life and
back to France. This time she went abilities to Jesus, her Savior. She
to Toul-Rosiéres Air Base, and has been ambulating by wheelchair
Charlie was stationed at a base 30
miles away, which enabled them
to visit many places in Europe.
Her service came to an end,
however, when she was given an
Honorable Discharge because she
was pregnant. She had served her
country over 13 years and attained
the rank of Major.
The Agees raised three children:
Charles Dwayne who was born in
Chablais, France, Charlotte Loraine
born in Spokane, Washington,
and Robert Wesley born in San
Antonio.
Her life was bolstered by the strong
faith of her uncle, K.C. Bailey, a
well-known missionary to India