PARIS — Maine Veterans’ Home resident Virginia Frost Jillson was born on Nov. 14, 1917, in Auburn. She was raised in Mechanic Falls.

Virginia enlisted in WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) in answer to the call for women to “relieve a man for combat duty.” She reported for active duty May 4, 1943, at Naval Training School, Hunter College, New York, N.Y. She trained to be an aviation machinists’ mate in Memphis, Tenn., which involves maintaining aircraft’s engine and their related systems. Virginia was an aviation machinist’s mate 2nd class, stationed at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Fla.

Throughout her military career she participated in choral groups and was part of a chorus at Hunter College that participated in a special program in Central Park called I Am An American Day. The group sang with Frank Sinatra. Jillson said that at the time he hadn’t reached national popularity and she didn’t even know who he was.

She was discharged in 1944 and returned to Maine where she married the late Ephraim Jillson. They settled in Windham and raised a son, George Jillson, and a daughter, Patricia Jillson. Virginia was an active leader with youth groups including Brownies and Rainbow Girls. She attained certification as a teacher and taught kindergarten in Raymond. In 1990 Eph and Virginia moved from Windham to Otisfield, where they were active in the Otisfield Historical Society, American Legion and Marine Corps League. She organized annual reunion gatherings for the Mechanic Falls High School class of 1936. Ephraim Jillson passed away April 3, 2006.

Virginia came to the Maine Veterans’ Home in March of 2010. She routinely attends activities such as bingo, one-on-one visits and music performances, her favorite activity.