You probably never heard of 98 year old Elinor Smith – and it’s a little late now, seeing as how her obituary has just been published in the Washington Post – but she is worth remembering.

For a lot of reasons:

• Became a test pilot for Fairchild Aviation at age 19
• Was voted by fellow pilots 1930′s female “pilot of the year” over Amelia Earhart
• Was featured on a box of Wheaties (1934)

And she broke all kinds speed, endurance and altitude records.

But even better, she knew everybody – she successfully appealed to Orville Wright (then with the National Aeronautic Association) to become the youngest licensed pilot in the world at age 16; she was given a pep talk by Charles Lindbergh before successfully flying under New York’s Queensboro, Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges (on a dare); and she was friends with the one and only Amelia Earhart.

Smith retired when she got married back in 1933, raised four children and flew every now and then (she was in her late 80′s during her last flight) and was, unfairly I think, forgotten.

But perhaps that’s what happens if you are lucky enough to become an old lady – instead of disappearing in your prime.