Ada Lou Duacsek, 96, passed away Nov. 21, 2021, at her home in Long Beach, California.

She was born Sept. 13, 1925, to George and (Lucy) Allen Reed in Clearlake Highlands, California.

Lou spent her childhood there aside from a short stay in Point Arena where her parents briefly worked. She attended Burns Valley School and Lower Lake High School.

Lou learned to fly a plane before she could drive. She attended San Jose State University where she pledged Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.

She was the first female student to graduate in aeronautical engineering but her studies were delayed by World War II when all the men in her department left for the military.

During this time, she was a Rosie the Riveter, running an aircraft gyroscope calibration unit. At night she was a hostess at a Stage Door Canteen where servicemen living in San Francisco could socialize.

After college she applied for a direct commission in the Navy, the only place that would provide women equal pay.

Lou was in the 3rd regular commission WAVE class. Her first duty station was in Glenview, Illinois, where she was tasked to recall reserve air squadrons when the Korean War broke out in 1950.

In 1951 she was assigned to the Naval Bureau of Personnel in Washington, D.C. While there, she marched in parades down Pennsylvania Avenue and had lunch with Mrs. Truman.

From 1952 to 1954 she attended the Naval Postgraduate School and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in aerology (meteorology) as well as a husband, Lt. Anthony Duacsek, US Navy.

She reported to NAS Moffett Field for a year, then was assigned to NAS North Island. She was discharged in 1957 shortly before the birth of her first daughter. At the time, married women with children were not allowed to remain line officers.

She spent the next 18 years moving between the Atlantic coast, the Pacific coast and an abbreviated stay in South Vietnam as her husband was transferred from shipyard to shipyard.

In Norfolk, she was pursuing a secondary science teaching credential at the College of William & Mary when her second daughter arrived.

In Charleston, she was involved with developing hurricane evacuation plans for the southeastern U.S. but was delivering her third daughter when the plans were implemented for the first time.

She volunteered during Operation Babylift in Long Beach in April 1975. She also volunteered over 5,000 hours for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

Lou and Tony retired in Long Beach in 1975. She worked briefly at Harbor Bank, then for Dr. H. Ochsner, M.D. and helped coordinate the Long Beach Police Department Emergency Translators.

Lou had a great sense of adventure and loved meeting and entertaining people. She traveled to 51 countries with different members of her family.

She was an active long time member of the El Dorado Woman’s Club, was a polls worker and precinct inspector for over 20 years, and helped organize the Long Beach International Festival.

She was loved by all who knew her.

She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony (Tony), and survived by her daughters, Diane Duacsek, Loraine Moreno and Monica (Mark) Buehnerkemper; five grandchildren, Christopher (Annie) Buehnerkemper, Veronica (Jonathan) Brock, Julianna Buehnerkemper, Raquel and Anthony Moreno; and four-great grandchildren, Anastasia, Thomas, Cecilia and Joseph Buehnerkemper.

A service will be held in Long Beach on Dec. 28.

Please sign the guest book at www.legacy.com/obituaries/lbpresstelegram.