Kuhns, Olive M. Clemens (1924-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 May 10 p. 8

Birth date: 1924

text of obituary:

Former EMU nursing prof dies

By Eastern Mennonite University staff

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Olive M. Kuhns, professor emerita of nursing at Eastern Mennonite University, died April 22 at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. She was 86.

Kuhns joined the EMU nursing department faculty in 1970 and taught there until her retirement in 1986. Her specialty was maternal and child care nursing.

"Olive was an advocate for children. Her interactions with children served as a role model for students in learning how to work with vulnerable, sick children.," said Beryl H. Brubaker, a nursing colleague of Kuhns during her years at EMU.

Kuhns received a bachelor's degree in natural science from Goshen (Ind.) College after earning a diploma from Grand View Hospital School of Nursing in Sellersville, Pa. She received a master's degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania.

On Aug. 27, 1949, she married James W. Kuhns, who preceded her in death on March 31, 2009.

Surviving are two daughters, Jean Elain Rissler of Harrisonburg and Evelyn Mae Rankin of Middleboro, Mass.; a son, Philip Lawrence Kuhns of Tallahassee, Fla.; a brother, R. Wayne Clemens of Souderton, Pa.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Genet Marie Orebaugh; a sister, Mildred L. Yoder, and a brother Edgar M. Clemens.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. May 22 at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. The body was cremated and the ashes interred at Weavers Mennonite Church Cemetery.