Lillian Gobitas Klose, Who Defied Mandatory Pledge of Allegiance, Is Dead at 90September 7, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 23 CommentsLillian Gobitas Klose was 12 when she was expelled from school for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Eight years later, in the midst of World War II, the U.S. Supreme Court vindicated her decision.