Ilovene Potter, a distinguished Washington State pilot, died Feb. 14 at the age of 87.
Potter learned to fly in the 1940s at the urging of her husband, Leslie, who was a pilot. She and her husband made their living in the aviation industry. She was the first woman in Washington State to earn a helicopter rating. She also was chief pilot for a large flight school at Boeing Field, gave numerous check rides during her career as an FAA examiner, competed in air racing events and aerobatics competitions and flew as a traffic reporter for a local broadcast station.
Her achievements are so notable there is even mention of her in the Smithsonian Museum.
Three sons, who also are pilots, survive her.