SPQ1 US NAVY

Florence "Flo" Rose Litwinas Morkus, 93, of Silver Spring, MD (from Hartford, CT), beloved wife of 57 years of the late Vincent A. Morkus entered peacefully into eternal life on Friday, August 5, 2016 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Hartford, CT on October 5, 1922, the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Plauguite) Litwinas who emigrated from Lithuania. She was the second oldest of 7 children (4 sisters and 2 brothers). She had happy memories of open trolly car rides to Camp Courant, picnics at Charter Oak Park, polka dances, bowling and basketball. She lived 91 years of her life in Hartford and the last 3 years in Silver Spring, Maryland near her two daughters.

Florence was a graduate of Holy Trinity Jr. High School and Hartford Public High School. After graduating HPHS in 1941, she worked for the Southern New England Telephone Co. as a switchboard operator. When WWII broke out she enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1943. After completing 6 weeks of Boot Training at Hunter College in New York, she was assigned to the Security Division of Navy Communications in Washington, D.C. as Specialist Q 1st Class, where she served for 33 months until the end of the war. As a Navy Veteran, she was honorably discharged on Dec. 6, 1945 with the WWII Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal. After her discharge, Flo returned to the telephone company as a switchboard operator and later worked for G. Fox & Co. as a sales associate until her retirement in 1977. Florence was a regular communicant at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, a member of The Children of Mary, and a member and past president of the Blessed Mother Sodality. Florence was a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Lithuania, and a member and past treasurer of the Lithuanian American R.C. Women's Alliance. She was a life member of The American Legion Jane Delano Post 7, a member of the Sabonis Lithuanian Post, and a life member of Navy Waves National (Women Accepted in Volunteer Emergency Services) Unit 42 CT Yankees. She was a member and officer of the South Catholic High School Mother's Club, the Holy Trinity basketball team and the East Hartford Women's Bowling League. She was also a Charter member of WIMSA (Women in Military Service of America) in Virginia. Flo was a faithful supporter of the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Her Navy memorabilia are on display at the Navy Yard Museum. Flo and her husband Vincent loved to travel throughout Europe, Greece, Rome, Lithuania and the Holy Land, and many of their wedding anniversaries were celebrated on cruises. Flo also enjoyed attending Navy Conventions in the U.S., Hawaii, and London with the British Navy Wrens. Florence made 5 trips to Lithuania to visit her family, to welcome Pope John Paul II on his first visit to Lithuania, and to celebrate the 50th Jubilee Mass of her first cousin Msgr. Pranas Liutvinas. Florence loved her family dearly and lived her life for her family. She was always proud of her Lithuanian heritage and she instilled that same pride in her daughters and grandchildren. Florence was a faithful listener and supporter of the Sunday Lithuanian Hour (WWUH) which she loved and continued to listen to even after she moved to Maryland. Flo was also a huge fan of UCONN Women's and Men's Basketball. She enjoyed corresponding with her Holy Trinity classmates, her WWII Navy friends and she frequently voiced her opinion in letters to the Hartford Courant Editor, Senators, and Presidents (including Mikhail Gorbachev) regarding local and international issues. She became "pen pals" with Lech Walesa in Poland during the Solidarity Movement and with General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War. In 1993, Flo began to care for the local military service women who had passed away by checking the Hartford Courant obituaries daily and sending their obits to General Wilma Vaught at WIMSA (Women In Military Service of America) in order to update their personnel records. In all, she sent over 1500 obituaries to WIMSA.

She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Carol Ann and James B. Wyble, of Potomac, MD and Christine M. and William N. Shipe of Gaithersburg, MD, three grandchildren, Geoffrey T. Shallal and his wife Kay, Matthew M. Shallal and Capt. Jessica M. Wyble, USAF, four great grandchildren, Danielle, Leah, Landon and Brittany, one great great granddaughter Spencer, sister Anne Vaichus of Oakville, CT, sister Gloria Litwinas of Wethersfield, CT, 20 beloved nieces and nephews, 38 great nieces and nephews, and 14 great great nieces and nephews. She also leaves godchildren Peter Vaichus, Geri Lisa Flamio and Irene Phillips Champine. She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 57 years Vincent A. Morkus - a WWII Army Air Corps B-17 Navigator, German POW and Purple Heart recipient. She was also predeceased by her 2 sisters Elizabeth Flamio and Mary Frances Litwinas and brothers Joseph Litwinas and Charles Litwinas. The 10:30 am Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Hartford will be held for Florence's intention on Sunday, Aug. 21 and on Sunday, Aug. 28. There will also be a Mass of Christian Burial at the Fort Meyer Chapel in Arlington, Virginia followed by Burial with Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. She will be laid to rest with her late husband Vincent. Florence embraced life with the motto, "For God and Country". Her Faith was unshakable and her patriotism was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed for her zest for life, her love and devotion for her family and friends and for her love of "God and Country". Florence Rose Litwinas Morkus was proud to be of "The Greatest Generation"!