Obituary for Pauline A. Coulter
Dr. Pauline Coulter
Clearfield: Dr. Pauline A. Coulter, 96, of Clearfield, passed away Wednesday evening, January 7, 2009 at the Clearfield Hospital.
Born January 1, 1913 in Curwensville, she was the daughter of John Peter and Aniela “Nellie” (Pajura) Kopec. She was a member of St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church in Curwensville, was a former member and past Vice President of the International Women’s Philanthropic Organization – McKeesport Chapter, the Woman’s Medical Society – Delta Omega Chapter, the Clearfield Curwensville Country Club, the Des Moines University Alumni Association, a Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America, and the Clearfield American legion Post#6
She was a 1930 graduate of Curwensville High School, the DuBois Hospital School of Nursing in 1933. She was too young to take the PA State Board and did not take it until 1934. She also attended the Mercy Hospital Pittsburgh, PA School of RN Anesthesia in 1940, received her BS Degree in Pre-Med from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. in 1954, received her Dr. of Osteopathy Degree from Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in 1958, and completed her internship at the Pontiac Hospital, Pontiac, Mich. In 1959.
Her first job was as an RN in the DuBois Hospital working 12 hours a day with 2 hours off every afternoon Monday thru Friday. She also worked Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays and her salary was $15 per month, plus room and board. After passing her State Board in 1934, she worked as an RN in Pittsburgh’s Mercy Hospital 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for $65/month.
In 1940 , after studying and getting certified in Anesthesia, she worked for Dr. Arthur Hartman, a McKeesport, PA Dentist. She had also worked for many other doctors as a Nurse Anesthetist in the Pittsburgh Area.
On June 3, 1943, she was inducted into the U. S. Naval Nursing Corps at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD, and reported to duty at the US Naval Hospital in Camp LeJeune, NC. After two years she was transferred to the U S Naval Hospital and Receiving Station for Pacific Theater wounded veterans in Oakland, CA. After 1 year there, she was transferred to the U S Naval Hospital at Mare Island where her primary duty was as a Nurse Anesthetist. The Hospital at Mare Island was the naval hospital which specialized in the care of amputees and soldiers that had been blinded. The hospital had a census in excess of 2800 patients during World War II.
In 1946, Dr. Coulter was discharged from the nursing corps. and was transfer to the naval reserve, and rose to the rank of Lt. Commander and was eventually retired from the Naval Reserve after 11 years of service.
While at Wayne State University, she worked part time as an anesthetist in various hospitals in the Detroit Metro area. From 1960 thru 1965, she maintained a family
Dr. Coulter, page 2
Practice in Campbell, Ohio. She left family practice at the end of 1965 to accept a position with the Pennsylvania State Department of Health at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.
In 1970, she accepted a Civil Service appointment with the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Highland Drive in Pittsburgh, and retired as the Director of Geriatric Care in 1982.
In 1966, she wed James L. Coulter, a field project manager for ALCOA Aluminum in Pittsburgh, PA, and they resided in the Fox Chapel suburb of Pittsburgh. After both their retirements in 1982, they moved to the Golden Rod Area of Clearfield. Mr. Coulter preceded her in death on December 14, 1998.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister Ann Ondish, 2 brothers John C. Kopec and Karl A. Kopec who was killed in action in Okinawa in the pacific Theater, and her step father Matthew J. Kupka.
Surviving are 2 sisters Helen Kulina Nypower of Glen Lyon, PA, and Stella Kopec of Clearfield. Also surviving are nieces Kathleen Kulina Kovaleski and husband Chester, Helen Marie Kulina Gorski and husband Edward, grand niece Cheryl Gorski Bach and husband Michael, and grand nephews Stephen Gorski and wife Susan and Chester C. Kovaleski and wife Emily and great grand nieces and nephews Grant Alexander Bach, Troy Jamison Bach, Scarlet Bach, Jace Bach, Christopher Kovaleski and Curtis Kovaleski.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church in Curwensville on Saturday January 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM, with the Reverend Father Mark S. Swoger as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde, PA.
Friends will be received at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. in Curwensville on Friday January 9 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM and Saturday from 9 AM until 9:30 AM, when the procession will depart for the church.
A Christian Vigil Service will be conducted at 2 PM Friday with the Rosary to be recited by Members of St. Timothy’s Altar and Rosary Society at 3 PM Friday, both at the funeral home.
Military Honors will be accorded at the graveside by members of the Clearfield American Legion and VFW Joint Honor Guard. The family suggests contributions be made to either St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church, the St. Francis School Endowment Fund, or the Curwensville Public Library.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.
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Clearfield: Dr. Pauline A. Coulter, 96, of Clearfield, passed away Wednesday evening, January 7, 2009 at the Clearfield Hospital.
Born January 1, 1913 in Curwensville, she was the daughter of John Peter and Aniela “Nellie” (Pajura) Kopec. She was a member of St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church in Curwensville, was a former member and past Vice President of the International Women’s Philanthropic Organization – McKeesport Chapter, the Woman’s Medical Society – Delta Omega Chapter, the Clearfield Curwensville Country Club, the Des Moines University Alumni Association, a Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America, and the Clearfield American legion Post#6
She was a 1930 graduate of Curwensville High School, the DuBois Hospital School of Nursing in 1933. She was too young to take the PA State Board and did not take it until 1934. She also attended the Mercy Hospital Pittsburgh, PA School of RN Anesthesia in 1940, received her BS Degree in Pre-Med from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. in 1954, received her Dr. of Osteopathy Degree from Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in 1958, and completed her internship at the Pontiac Hospital, Pontiac, Mich. In 1959.
Her first job was as an RN in the DuBois Hospital working 12 hours a day with 2 hours off every afternoon Monday thru Friday. She also worked Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays and her salary was $15 per month, plus room and board. After passing her State Board in 1934, she worked as an RN in Pittsburgh’s Mercy Hospital 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for $65/month.
In 1940 , after studying and getting certified in Anesthesia, she worked for Dr. Arthur Hartman, a McKeesport, PA Dentist. She had also worked for many other doctors as a Nurse Anesthetist in the Pittsburgh Area.
On June 3, 1943, she was inducted into the U. S. Naval Nursing Corps at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD, and reported to duty at the US Naval Hospital in Camp LeJeune, NC. After two years she was transferred to the U S Naval Hospital and Receiving Station for Pacific Theater wounded veterans in Oakland, CA. After 1 year there, she was transferred to the U S Naval Hospital at Mare Island where her primary duty was as a Nurse Anesthetist. The Hospital at Mare Island was the naval hospital which specialized in the care of amputees and soldiers that had been blinded. The hospital had a census in excess of 2800 patients during World War II.
In 1946, Dr. Coulter was discharged from the nursing corps. and was transfer to the naval reserve, and rose to the rank of Lt. Commander and was eventually retired from the Naval Reserve after 11 years of service.
While at Wayne State University, she worked part time as an anesthetist in various hospitals in the Detroit Metro area. From 1960 thru 1965, she maintained a family
Dr. Coulter, page 2
Practice in Campbell, Ohio. She left family practice at the end of 1965 to accept a position with the Pennsylvania State Department of Health at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.
In 1970, she accepted a Civil Service appointment with the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Highland Drive in Pittsburgh, and retired as the Director of Geriatric Care in 1982.
In 1966, she wed James L. Coulter, a field project manager for ALCOA Aluminum in Pittsburgh, PA, and they resided in the Fox Chapel suburb of Pittsburgh. After both their retirements in 1982, they moved to the Golden Rod Area of Clearfield. Mr. Coulter preceded her in death on December 14, 1998.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister Ann Ondish, 2 brothers John C. Kopec and Karl A. Kopec who was killed in action in Okinawa in the pacific Theater, and her step father Matthew J. Kupka.
Surviving are 2 sisters Helen Kulina Nypower of Glen Lyon, PA, and Stella Kopec of Clearfield. Also surviving are nieces Kathleen Kulina Kovaleski and husband Chester, Helen Marie Kulina Gorski and husband Edward, grand niece Cheryl Gorski Bach and husband Michael, and grand nephews Stephen Gorski and wife Susan and Chester C. Kovaleski and wife Emily and great grand nieces and nephews Grant Alexander Bach, Troy Jamison Bach, Scarlet Bach, Jace Bach, Christopher Kovaleski and Curtis Kovaleski.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church in Curwensville on Saturday January 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM, with the Reverend Father Mark S. Swoger as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde, PA.
Friends will be received at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. in Curwensville on Friday January 9 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM and Saturday from 9 AM until 9:30 AM, when the procession will depart for the church.
A Christian Vigil Service will be conducted at 2 PM Friday with the Rosary to be recited by Members of St. Timothy’s Altar and Rosary Society at 3 PM Friday, both at the funeral home.
Military Honors will be accorded at the graveside by members of the Clearfield American Legion and VFW Joint Honor Guard. The family suggests contributions be made to either St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church, the St. Francis School Endowment Fund, or the Curwensville Public Library.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.
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