Notes
Note N470 Index
Appeared in San Louis Obispo Tribune
Published on: March 8, 2005
A SPECIAL NURSE
Longtime Cayucos resident and registered nurse Kathryn Lichty Piaskowski, is now at the Cabrillo Care Center in San Luis Obispo. She was born in Illinois and attended elementary school a one-room schoolhouse. Her family had a farm in Illinois and worked hard. An article she wrote shows that she was very close to her parents. Among other things, she mentioned that her mother raised chickens to be sold as fryers, and they survived two cholera epidemics which wiped out their hog population.
Later she became a nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, Ill. around 1938. At Ravenswood Hospital in Chicago she started post graduate work as a nurse anesthetist in November, 1941. Kathryn was encouraged by her parents to join the U.S. Navy after completing graduate school. She completed that program and joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 1943 and reported to the St. Albans, Long Island, New York, Naval Hospital. Because of the wartime urgency for nurses, she did not attend boot camp or Officer Candidate School. She was just put directly on active duty. A few months later she was transferred to Patuxent River, Md. and promoted to surgery supervisor and anesthetist, and was a specialist nurse for bone and brain surgery.
As the war was ending, she was distressed by the many burn victims she saw who had been wounded by Japanese Kamikaze airplane pilots. She was frustrated as a nurse, because she could do so little to comfort or help her young patients other than to adjust pillows under their heads, hold their hands, and promise to send letters to loved ones. She asked herself the age-old question, "When will the men who send our sons, brothers, husbands, and daughters into battle ever learn."
She retired from Kaiser Permanente before moving to Cayucos, and continues to still hear from nurses and others she worked with. She is still loved by many, and is special. In Cayucos she has served as president of the Cayucos Senior Citizens.
Among the first things she noticed and loved when she came to California were the Palm Trees. Her home is on St. Mary Avenue in Cayucos, and she has been married to her husband, Henry for about 55 years. They have a son in Washington state.
Notes
Note N216 Index
Samual listed Pearl's Birth twice as June 3, 1882. Pearl listed her birth year as 1886 in her marriage application.
Her Obituary list 1883.
From Census records her year of birth calculates:
1920 - 1886
1930 - 1884
1940 - 1886
Notes
Note N186 Index
Obituary Ethel Pearl McClunny (Evans)
Bluffton New Banner
Monday November 6, 1961
page 1 col 2
MRS. PEARL EVANS, 78, FOUND DEAD
Mrs Pearl Evans, 78, widow of Walter Evans, was found dead at her home at 1526 West Lancaster St. at 11:30 p.m. Saturday by her brother, Trevor McClunny of Redkey, who investigated when he received no answer to telephone calls to Mrs. Evans home.
Mrs. Evans unexpected death occurred Saturday afternoon, according to Dr. Charles Caylor, Wells County coroner.
A native and lifelong resident of Wells County, Mrs. Evans was born June 3, 1883, the daughter of Samuel and Florence Shellabarger McClunny. Her marriage to Mr. Evans, who died in 1957, took place Sept. 6, 1919 at Muncie.
Mrs. McClunny was a member of the Woman of the Moose.
Surviving, in addition to the brother, are four sisters. Mrs. May Schleigh of Electra, Tex., Mrs. Claud Carr of Pauls Vally, Ola., and Mrs. Gretchen Nusbaumer and Mrs. Gay Paul, both of Muncie.
Friends may call after noon Tuesday at the Thoma Funeral Home.
Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. Henry Churchill officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery.
Notes
Note N177 Index
Obituary Gretchen McClunny
Muncie Evening Press - June 17, 1983
GRETCHEN M. NUSBAUM, 89, WAS BRIDAL CONSULTANT
Gretchen M. Nusbaum, 89, widow of O.C. Nusbaum and formerly of 415 ½ E. Gilbert St. died Friday in Ball Hospital after a brief illness. In recent months, she had been a patient at Riverview Nursing Home.
Mrs. Nusbaum was born in Blackford County, near Montpelier, and graduated from high school there. She came to Muncie about 65 years ago.
For many years, she was employed at Ball Stores in the ladies wear department, where she was bridal consultant before her retirement.
Surviving are a son, Ralph Nusbaum, Wolcottville and LaFera, Texas; a grandson, Terry Nusbaum, Muncie; two granddaughters, Sherry (Mrs. Gerald) Burdick, Spokane, Wash. and Wendy (Mrs. Sam) Wearly, Muncie, and seven great-grandchildren.
Meeks Mortuary is in charge of private services. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory.
Memorials may be sent to the Delaware County Heart Association.
Notes
Note N471 Index
"Was at Yale in '79' and died while there."