During the Second World War she joined the RNZAF and went on to join the WAAF and was posted to Taieri in Dunedin. Her flying experience meant she become the station's only woman air traffic controller.

Edna and her sisters were originally from Waimate, but attended Timaru Girls Highschool and after the Second World War she lived the remainder of her life in Timaru. Alongside her skills in the cockpit, she was also very adept with the paint brush with her name appearing in many early South Canterbury Art Society Annual Exhibitions.