Doris Knodt Petry helped make history.

She was one of tens of thousands of American women who rolled up their sleeves and helped build airplanes, ships, tanks and more to help the military secure victory against the Axis Powers during World War II.

Doris was part of the army of women respectively dubbed “Rosie the Riveter.”

She passed away Saturday in Germany, 51 days after celebrating her 100th birthday.

All of those who served — and aided the war effort — deserve to be remembered and thanked for their service and sacrifices.

And it was the desire to not forget women like Knodt Petery as well as the men who served that inspired the community to fund a series of nearly two-story murals on the side of the Manteca Bedquarters at Yosemite Avenue and Main Street in downtown.

The $125,000 project includes World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror.

A committee working with the Manteca Mural Society selected the images of nine Mantecans who served in the war effort.

Veterans were adamant that the stateside effort of people represented by the symbolic Rosie the Riveter be included in the mural’s decision.

It is why you will see Doris’ image if you stop by and look up toward the area of the mural where two women are working on an airplane.

Shortly after graduating Hayward High in 1942, the then Doris Williams went to work for Western Tool & Die in Emeryville.

It was egg beater manufacturer turned Boeing aircraft parts facility.  

Doris got her start in shipping and receiving, but quickly became a real-life “Rosie the Riveter”, operating a drill press to manufacture parts for Boeing’s B-17 Flying Fortress.

Like so many of her time, Doris’ social life was also shaped by the war. Evenings out with her girlfriends often led to the USO in Hayward.

 It was at a dance there one night that she met, and immediately fell in love with, an Army X-Ray Technician, August Knodt.

After the war, he secured a job at San Joaquin General Hospital and moved to French Camp.

When Manteca Hospital — the forerunner of Doctors Hospital — opened in 1962, August took a job there and they moved to Manteca.

They eventually had four children: Norman, Marlana, Randy and Karl.

They opened Knodt’s House of Flowers in December of 1964 on Center Street. They eventually moved to  where the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is now located in downtown. The business operated there until 1991.

It was run by Doris and August and eventually by two of their children, Marlana and Randy.

Doris was well-known for using her artistic background to make custom floral pieces for funerals in shapes ranging from guitars to a pig.

Doris was the quintessential optimist who never was in a bad mood.

She was a member of the Manteca Soroptimists.

Doris was also a talented quilter and seamstress. She made custom Halloween costumes for all 10 of her grandchildren.

She also had 13 great-grandchildren.

August served on the Manteca Unified School District board. August Knodt School in Weston Ranch is named in his honor.

A number of years after August passed, she married Philipp Petry at age 80 and moved to Germany.

Doris was born on Jan. 11, 1924 in Campbell.

Memorial services are pending.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com