Visitors to the Rosie the Riveter / World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond , California , are now miss one very worthful resourcefulness . internal park rangerBetty Reid Soskinisretiringat age 100 .
Soskin was the National Park Service ’s oldest ranger and brought her astonishing lived experience to the job . Raised in Oakland , sheworkedin a segregated union mansion house duringWorld War IIand later establish one of the first Black - owned music shop in the Bay Area , Reid ’s Records , which remained in business for about 65 long time .
Soskin was also highlyactiveduring the Civil Rights Movement , marching and fundraising for the Black Panthers .
Whileworkingas a field representative for a state legislator in 2000 , Soskin was invited to plan meeting for the parking lot . It quickly became unmistakable she would be instrumental in bringing stories of Black Americans on the home plate front during World War II to light , induce sure details of wartime segregation would be conserve for succeeding generations . Her noesis eventually led to a full - clip post as a park ranger in 2007 , offering turn and lectures . She was , until her retirement , the oldest active park forest fire fighter in the NPS , and one of the mostinfluential womento ever operate in the service .
“ The National Park Service is grateful to Ranger Betty for sharing her thoughts and first - soul accounts in way that span across generations , ” Naomi Torres , act superintendent of Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front National Historical Park , say in a press departure . “ She has used stories of her life on the home front , drawing import from those experiences in way that make that account truly impactful for those of us living today . ”
The park will celebrate Soskin ’s retirement on Saturday , April 16 .
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