COULSON, Donald 1911-1931

COULSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/28/2015 at 21:16:03

Donald Coulson Dies At Hospital In Cedar Rapids

Loses Five Weeks Struggle To Overcome Effects Of Ruptured Appendix

Body Is Being Brought to His Home Today

End Came at 11:30 Last Night; Was In Critical Condition Since Operation

Donald Coulson died at St. Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids at 11:30 last night after a five weeks' struggle to overcome the poison in his system resulting from a ruptured appendix. His condition was regarded as critical at the time of the operation and at no time since was he regarded as even having a fair chance to get well.

Donald was taken sick while attending Cornell college at Mt. Vernon. He didn't want to alarm his folks at home and they knew nothing about it until he was taken to the hospital. The appendix had ruptured before the operation was performed.

Donald was 20 years old. He graduated from the Grundy Center high school with the class of 1929. He is the third member of this class to meet death unexpectedly during the past year. John Graves, a member of the class, met death in an automobile collision, and a month ago Eldon Watkins, another member of the class, was drowned in Bass Lake, Minnesota. Donald was a good student and a likable youngster who was beloved by all who knew him. He was doing his second year's work at college when he was stricken. He was born in Washington state, Oct. 8, 1911, and came here with his parents seventeen years ago. Donald is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Del Coulson, by three brothers, Paul, John and Wilfred, and two sisters, Margaret and Ruth.

L. D. Coffman, undertaker, left early this morning for Cedar Rapids and brought the body back with him. Harvey Meyers drove down to get Mr. and Mrs. Coulson. Funeral arrangements have not been made at the time that this paper goes to press. They will probably be Saturday afternoon.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 June 1931, pg 1

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Many Attend Funeral Service For Donald Coulson

Funeral services for Donald Coulson were held at the Methodist church Friday afternoon with Rev. J. B. Bird, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. There was a very beautiful floral offering and there was a large attendance at the service.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the service were Mrs. Ethel Mulcahy and family, Denny Mulcahy, Mrs. Lonent, Mrs. Chas. Mitchell, Mrs. Jim Quire, of Grinnell Mrs. Weatherau, Mt. Vernon, Mr. and Mrs. Christosen, Mr. and Mrs. Snell and children, Newton, Mrs. Jackus and daughter, Janice of Cedar Rapids, and the following students of Cornell: John Hauser, Will Housel, chris Huggen, Harold Grant, Dorothy Pierce and Kathryn Wilson.

Donald Henry Coulson
(By Rev. J. B. Bird)

This world is subject to many storms, of many kinds. Sometimes they come suddenly, unexpected, and pass leaving in their wake wreckage of forests, cities and farms on the land, and ships that go down in the sea. So it is in human life--when all seems to hold most promise for a future of health and usefulness, disease swift and remorseless against which there is no sufficient defense, invades our security and demolishes our hopes.

Donald Henry Coulson was just at the opening of the door to manhood, looking out upon life, seeking the way to usefulness amid life's many offerings--then the door closed though a little less than twenty years had been passed.

His birthplace was at Kennewick, Benton county, Wash., on the 8th of October, 1911. The end came at the close of June 24, 1931, in St. Luke's hospital at Cedar Rapids.

Mr. and Mrs. Dell Coulson came to Iowa when their son was but a few months old, and began to establish their home at Grundy Center, in 1912. By 1929 the youth had graduated from the local high school and was ready for college. He entered Cornell college that autumn, and had almost completed his second year when sickness fell.

Donald was a bright, eager youth, full of friendliness and goodwill, making many friends and endearing himself to them. Many are those among his boyhood companions and college associates who would share in the grief of these sorrowing bereaved parents, these two sisters, three brothers and other close relatives.

The funeral service on Friday was held at the Methodist church, which he had attended.

A group of Cornell students, together with Prof. S. L. Chandler came to the funeral to represent the college. His classmates of the Grundy high school were present and were the pall-bearers.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 July 1931, pg 6