Mary-Louise-Elder-62187

Obituary

Mary Louise Elder, 70, who served as superintendent of Burlington hospital for 27 years, died Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Ottumwa hospital, Ottumwa, after an illness of several years. She had been a patient one week. Born Feb. 9, 1883, in Newton, Ill., Miss Elder began residence in Burlington in 1895. She attended the Burlington hospital school of nursing in which she took an active interest in her years as superintendent. Becoming hospital superintendent here in August 1919 she was active in many different organizations and societies of a charitable and educational nature. She was a former member of the Iowa State Board of Hospital Examiners and of the American Hospital Administration association. During World War I she served 13 months in France as an army nurse with Unit R. She had the distinction of being the first nurse to serve Ottumwa public schools. Miss Elder retired from her duties at the local hospital in 1946, to make her home with a sister, Mrs. Bert Terhune, in Ottumwa. Since her sisters death, she lived alone at her residence in Ottumwa. She was a member of First Baptist church, Ottumwa. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mitchell, Darien , Conn., and Mrs. Carrie Aubrey, Marion; and one brother, Henry Elder, of Boone. Services will be held at 11 a.m.Saturday at the Jay funeral home, Ottumwa. Rev. C. Frederick Kinnell will officiate. Graveside services will take place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Aspen Grove cemetery.