Zoe was born in 1922 and grew up in Sorento, Illinois, near Greenville, where Tom Cartmell grew up.

She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, graduating October 3, 1943, with a Bachelor of Science degree, and High Honors in Bacteriology. While at the U of I, she lived as a sophomore in McKinley Hall, where her sister, Ruth Foran, also lived. Later, she moved into a sorority house, Alpha Omicron Pi.

After graduation, she moved to Chicago, taking a job at a clinical laboratory. While in Chicago, she lived in an apartment at 7343 South Ridgeland.

She married Tom on October 28, 1944, and they had three months together in California before he left to join the 417th Night Fighter Squadron in France.

Of the wedding, Zoe wrote to her parents:

Our wedding was very nice – much nicer than I expected. We had a Presbyterian minister from the base who knew Rev. Lohar from Greenville. I have a copy of the wedding ceremony. You should have seen us Saturday. – We had to get my blood test – and pick out the rings – (had a double-ring ceremony) – get the license, corsages. – I wore an orchid, the other two girls had gardenias. Laurale came down from Oakland to be Maid of Honor. She was awfully nice – the girl-friend of Tom’s best man. Johnnie gave me away – all afternoon he kept practicing saying “I do” – for when the mister asked “Who gives this girl etc.” – (can’t remember how it goes from there). That night I couldn’t help but laugh hen he said it.

Lt. and Jean Clyde were the attendants. The church was all decorated with flowers – we had soft music all through the ceremony. A fellow from the base sang “Because” and “Oh, Promise Me”. And when Johnnie and I marched down the aisle they played “Here Comes the Bride” – with everyone staring at me.

Also there was a photographer there who took a lot of pictures – will send you some if they are any good. There were some more people there from the base but I didn’t know them. It was just exactly like a big wedding with all the trimmings except I didn’t wear a white dress. We were supposed to have a rehearsal Friday afternoon but since I didn’t get here until three that night we weren’t able to have one. The chaplain arranged everything – I think it was very nice of him to go to so much trouble.

I going to go see ______ this week or the early part of the next since we’re leaving here the 10th and it’s only 58 miles. Intend to write her this afternoon.

Forgot to tell you that when we came out of the church everyone showered us with rice – got more in my mouth than anyplace.

Tom is a pretty nice husband – will probably spoil me – as he makes the bed and helps me cook, etc. Last night was our first dinner – Johnnie came over so he had to suffer along with Tom. – It wasn’t so bad considering neither of us have a ration book.

Following Tom’s death in April, 1945, Zoe had their daughter, Tome Elizabeth Cartmell. She lived with her parents in Illinois for a time, before returning to California.

Back in California, Zoe met and married James Ellis in 1954. Together, they had a son and lived in Glendale, California.

Zoe died in 1992, and is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

James Ellis died in 1993, and is buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.