Alberta Hunt Nicholson died of Leukemia June, 25, 2002 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was born April 20, 1914 in Baker City, Oregon, the daughter of James and Christiana Folkman Hunt. Her twin brother, Albert Hunt, died July 29,1991.
A University of Utah graduate in music, she taught elementary school for three years. During a summer break she became interested in flying and raised money for flying lessons by giving piano lessons.
After the United States had entered World War II the Air Force established the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), and already an experienced pilot, Alberta was accepted for training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. A marble monument at Sweetwater lists Alberta Hunt among the young women who earned their wings there. Upon graduation she was an Engineering Test Pilot, making sure the planes were safe for the young Air Force cadets to fly.
Following the war she went to Germany where she served as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Civil Aviation for HICOG in the State Department. While in Germany she found time to study the piano.
Returning to America she taught flying and flew competitively in eight women's Transcontinental Air Races. She also taught piano at the University of Utah. She played an active role in the regional and national affairs of the WASPs and the Ninety-Nines, the latter an international organization of women pilots founded by Amelia Earhart, and so-called because there were only 99 members to start with. In honor of Earhart, at Atchison, Kansas, her birthplace, an International Forest of Friendship has been established where individual plaques bearing the names of women pilots who have made significant contributions to aviation are mounted in granite blocks, each with a tree in her honor. Along with Amelia Earhart, Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Love and others is the name of Alberta Hunt Nicholson.
She married Walter E. Nicholson Nov. 23, 1957 at Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1952 she turned her talents to helping patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Salt Lake City, where she worked as a recreational therapist for 25 years.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many capacities within her ward and stake as well as giving years of volunteer service at the LDS Church Office Building.
She is survived by her husband, Walter E. Nicholson, two step-sons, Edwin Nicholson and William Nicholson and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at University of Utah Hospital for their special care over the past several years.
Services will be held Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 11:00 a.m., East Millcreek 11th Ward, 2702 E. Evergreen Avenue, where a visitation will be held one hour prior. Funeral directors, Larkin Mortuary.