Upon graduation from high school she enlisted in the U.S. Army, spending most her time in Army installations in Virginia.

Subsequent to an honorable discharge, she remained in the northern Virginia area and was employed in secretarial and office management positions.

She later migrated to the West Virginia area where she was co-owner of a small pizza parlor.

Later she was employed by a large coal mining company and retired in 2002, then settled at Madawaska Lake.