COYLE, Ile Mae

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ Monday, January 24, 2011 Ile Mae Coyle, 90 of Cottonwood, passed away January 18, 2011. She was born on January 26, 1920 in Batson, Texas to Samuel J. Tilden Perkins and Lessie Smith Perkins. She attended Aircraft Electrical Engineering College and worked for several companies worldwide as an aircraft and aerospace employee. She worked on consolidated-vultee PBY-5 flying boats during WWII; stealth fighters, space shuttle orbiters and then finally the Airforce. Ile is survived by her sons Joe Coyle (Bee) and Kelly Perkins (Kathy) both of Flagstaff. There are no services planned. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Thursday, January 27, 2011 Ile Mae Coyle (Perkins), 90, of Flagstaff, died Tuesday, Jan., 18, 2011, in Cottonwood. Mrs. Coyle was born Jan. 26, 1920, in Batson, Texas. She was the youngest daughter of a Texas oil wildcatter. In 1944, she left Texas and traveled to San Diego by train and landed a job at Consolidated-Vultee Airplane Company, later Convair. Working in a man's world, she soon proved herself to be a tough customer, able to withstand the prejudices of the times and thrive in the burgeoning aerospace industry, where she constantly advanced until her retirement. During her career, she worked on PBY-5 Catalina flying boats, the B-36 bomber, the F-117 Stealth Fighter (at Lockheed's secret Skunk Works facility), Atlas Missiles, Shuttle Orbiters, C-130 gunships and many other aircraft and spacecraft. Other work venues remain classified. Her last job assignment was fitting electronic countermeasures on the new Boeing 747 now serving as Air Force One. She became a permanent resident of Flagstaff in 1998. Mrs. Coyle is survived by her sons, Kelly Perkins and Joe Coyle of Flagstaff; one niece; one nephew; and several grandchildren. A private life celebration is planned. Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood is handling arrangements.