WICHITA, Kan., April 21, 2026 – B-29 Superfortress and World War II-era “Rosie the Riveter” Connie Palacioz will be honored with a public celebration of life memorial service and open house on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the B-29 DOC Hangar, Education and Visitors Center in Wichita.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. and the service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a public reception and viewing until 5 p.m.
Connie worked for The Boeing Company in Wichita from 1943 to 1945 and was a “Rosie the Riveter” on the B-29 production line in the factory that built 1,644 B-29 Superfortress bombers. She died Sunday, April 19, at the age of 101.
“Rosie the Riveter wasn’t just a symbol of wartime necessity—she was the embodiment of quiet courage, resilience, and the unshakable belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things,” said B-29 DOC Board Chairman Jeff Turner. “Connie Palacioz carried that legacy forward, not only through her work but through the example she set for future generations. Her story reminds us that history isn’t built solely in the skies by the aircraft we preserve, but by the hands and hearts of those who made flight possible. At DOC, our mission to tell the story of aviation and the Greatest Generation is, at its core, a commitment to honoring individuals like Connie—ensuring their contributions are never forgotten, and that their spirit continues to inspire those who follow.”
From 2000 until her death on Sunday, Connie spent 26 years serving as a volunteer for B-29 DOC, first as a member of the restoration team that spent more than 450,000 hours over 16 years restoring the historic B-29, then as an advocate traveling with DOC across the United States sharing the story of the Greatest Generation and the legacies of the men and women who designed, built and flew B-29s during World War II.
Catholic services will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Wichita (861 N. Sonora, Wichita, KS, 67212). A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, followed by a Catholic mass funeral at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 4.
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On the Web:
www.b29doc.com
Media Contact:
Josh Wells, (316) 209-0470 josh@b29doc.com
About Doc’s Friends and B-29 Doc
Doc’s Friends, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit board managing the operation of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as Doc. Doc is a B-29 Superfortress and one of 1,644 manufactured in Wichita during World War II. It is one of only two remaining B-29s that are still airworthy and flying today. The mission of Doc’s Friends is to HONOR the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others, including those who designed, built, maintained and flew the B-29 during and after WWII. CONNECT people with the rich heritage of the B-29 and allow aviation enthusiasts to experience the aircraft up close. EDUCATE todays and future generations on the contributions of the Greatest Generation.