Susan B. Briggs, 98, World War II veteran made last Honor Flight
March 5, 2020
Susan Buhay Briggs of the Lakes at Litchfield, who served in the Women’s Army Corps in World War II, died Feb. 29. She was 98.
She was born Jan. 2, 1922, in Endicott, N.Y., a daughter of John Buhay and Anna Petro Buhay. She grew up in Endicott and graduated high school.
She was working in the local shoe factory when she read in the local paper that the Army needed women, Mrs. Briggs recalled in an interview in 2016. She enlisted in January 1942. She was sent to England, where she worked with a unit that handled spare parts for P-51 fighter planes. The unit moved to France after D-Day.
She met her future husband, Archie Briggs, at the Eiffel Tower. When a waiter placed five bottles of Champagne on a nearby table, Archie lifted one and placed it at Susan’s feet. “That bottle of Champagne was at our wedding,” Mrs. Briggs said.
The couple married in 1947.
After staying home to raise their four children, Mrs. Briggs started working in the early 1960s for St. Lawrence University in the bookstore as a clerk. She worked her way up to be one of the mangers of the bookstore. She said the work was like her role as a supply sergeant in the Army.
She was a member of the Knights of Columbus Women’s Auxiliary in Canton, N.Y., and Charlotte. She moved to the Lakes of Litchfield in 2015.
Mrs. Briggs was the only female veteran on the last Honor Flight from South Carolina to Washington, D.C., in May 2016.
Mrs. Briggs was an avid reader. She loved to cook and was a wonderful homemaker.
She is survived by three sons, John Briggs (Alice) of Pawleys Island, Stephen Briggs (Becky) of Edina, Minn., and Christopher Briggs (Carrie) of Cohoes, N.Y.; a daughter, Susan O’Connell of Vestal, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Myrtle Beach chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 1105 48th Ave. North, Suite 109, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
Services will be held at a later date at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church.
There is a guest book at mayerfuneralhome.com.
