Norma J. "Penny" Halberg, 93, of Palm Coast, FL passed away May 12, 2016. Penny was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Los Angeles, CA. Just as little boys grew up wanting to be pilots, so did Penny. She started flying in early 1943, working a 48 hour week in LA and traveling "inland" (civilian aircraft were not allowed to fly within 100 miles of the coast) to take flying lessons on the weekends. Eventually, she quit her city job and moved to the airport, which was nothing more than a wide spot in the desert. Penny pumped gas, made sandwiches, served beer, and worked on airplanes with her meals and room as part of her pay. She slept on an old Army cot in a shack off the airport.

Penny entered the WASP (Women's Army Service Pilots) program as a member of the class 44-6, arriving at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX in a January snowstorm. She received her silver wings and was assigned to Gardener Field Taft, CA. There she flew as an Engineering Test Pilot and a member of a ferry trip of 30 Stearmans (open cockpit) in early December from CA to St. Augustine, FL.

After the WASPs were disbanded in late December 1944, she served as an air controller in Santa Barbara till the war ended, and then flew aircraft from the factories to dealers around the USA. Seeking something different, she found a job in Saudi Arabia as a payroll clerk and worked her way up to being the highest paid female in the corporation. However, she was still paid less than her male peers. Penny met and married a petroleum engineer, with whom she had 3 sons: Brad, Steve, and Scott Houghton. Later assignments took the family to Indonesia and East Pakistannow Bangladesh.

On moving back to the states, she became a court reporter for the Superior Court, District of Columbia. Upon retirement, she married her husband, Paul Halberg, an ex-Navy Pilot and VP for Magnavox on March 9, 1985. Penny joined Paul in Fort Wayne, IN where she became an enthusiastic fundraiser for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. Penny and Paul moved to Hammock Dunes, Palm Coast, FL in 1994 and were active members of the club until 2004.

Penny enjoyed water and snow skiing, golf, travelling, was a lifelong bridge enthusiast, and flew over most of the USA with her husband in a high performance plane he built from a kit. She will be remembered for her loving nature and her service for our country. Penny is survived by her husband Paul; by her sons: Brad, Steve, and Scott; plus daughters-in-law Barbara, Rose, and Cathy; and 3 grandchildren.

Interment will be scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Palm Coast.