ONE of the first GI brides to leave Warrington and make her home in America has died at the age of 81.

Vera Diehr, nee Whiting, met her husband John at RAF Burtonwood when she worked in the Women's Auxiliary of the RAF. He was a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force from Columbus, Ohio.

The couple married in Warrington on June 12 1943 and Vera travelled to the United States by hospital ship on March 26 1945 with their baby daughter, Adrienne.

Throughout John's military career, the couple moved across America before settling in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They had a second daughter, Penelope. Vera enjoyed setting up home for her family and her poodles, Gogo, Mimi and Cindy.

Vera was born in an air raid shelter during a zeppelin raid in London in 1917. She grew up in Essex before being posted to Burtonwood in 1940.

Her passion was singing and she often entertained the troops and prisoners of war. She was also an excellent swimmer, a hobby which she kept up in America, and worked for the Disabled American Veterans' Auxiliary.

Family friend James Campbell, of New York, contacted the GUARDIAN about Vera's death. He was also stationed in Burtonwood during the war and praised the people of Warrington for their warm welcome. I remember the many good times shown to me in those years," he said, "and have a debt of gratitude to all who made my time away from home easier."

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