Eva Blood Waggoner: 1884-1979
Posted July 10, 2020
When I was a child, my father told me and my 6 brothers and sisters, “The big thing in life is service to others.” I’ve seen the better part of my 96 years in service to others, living my father’s creed.
My name is Eva Waggoner Blood. Born in Oconto, but raised and educated in Green Bay. Upon graduation from East High School, I took secretarial classes at Green Bay Business College and later in Chicago where I received a teaching degree in stenographic.
After my marriage to Lee Blood and while working in the Mayor’s office days and teaching at Green Bay Business College evenings, I joined the newly formed Green Bay Women’s Club, an organization formed for the betterment of the community. I saw an opportunity for “service to others,” and as a member of the child welfare committee in the club, I organized the Visiting Nurses Association, covering children from cradle to school and beyond.
In 1922 after returning from a YWCA convention, I saw a need for girls from 12 – 18 and formed a group called “Girls Reserve” and later the “Y – Teens.” Our motto was, “It is not the way the wind blows, but how you set your sails.”
In addition to working to serve children and family needs, I was President of the Brown County Historical Society, and as president I spearheaded a drive to raise money to move the historic Cotton House to its present location in 1938. I was also active with the Gray Ladies at Bellin Hospital, the Green Bay and De Pere Antiquarians and the Republican Party. Lee and I found time to teach Sunday school at the First United Methodist Church.
I passed away in 1979 at age 96 and am buried with Lee at Woodlawn cemetery. I’m proud to say my father’s motto became mine, “do for the service of others.”