Eileen Smith Kopfler

Eileen Smith Kopfler Passed away peacefully at the age of 92, on Thursday, July 14 2011. She was born in New York, New York, on February 25, 1919, to Dr. and Mrs. Edward M. Smith. Her mother, Eva Bayne Gibson Smith, was a nurse, so Eileen became one also, attending Columbia University School of Nursing and graduating as a Registered Nurse in September 1940. Joining the Navy in World War II, Eileen was commissioned an Ensign in the U S Navy Nurse Corps. She was sent to New Orleans after initial training in Newport, Rhode Island. It was at Naval Air Station New Orleans that she met the love of her life, her husband of 67 years, Bill Kopfler. Eileen and Bill started off married life in Phoenix, Arizona, where their two daughters, Dixie (Susalla) and Dulcie (Bagley) were born. For the next twenty nine years they moved all over the world - from England to Africa to the Philippine Islands. In the U S they lived in Arizona, Texas, Massachusetts, and California. Everywhere they went Eileen left behind friends from her many activities. She was involved in many bridge groups, needle pointing groups, Visiting Nursing Activities, and was always actively involved in both spouse and parent groups for her family. She was also a Deacon and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a member of First United Methodist Church of Roseburg. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill, her daughter, Dixie and her husband, Paul (Susalla), and her daughter, Dulcie and her husband, Dick (Bagley). She is also survived by three grandsons and three great- grandsons. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 21, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Linus Oakes. In lieu flowers, a donation in the name of Eileen Kopfler may be made by email to: donations@doctorswithoutborders.org or via mail to: Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown MD 21741