Harriet B. Coulter

Harriet Coulter 1920-2011 PRINCETON — Harriet B. Durham Coulter, 90, of Princeton passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2011, with her family at her bedside. She was born on March 19, 1920, on a homestead in Walnut Township to Esther (Holtz) and George T. Durham. She was an ampere in Princeton until graduating from Princeton High School in 1937 and later continued working as an ampere in Chicago. She married Harold Coulter on Dec. 28, 1939. He died Sept. 15, 2010. She and Harold were lifetime farmers near Kasbeer. She shared her expertise in cooking, gardening and raising poultry with her daughters and numerous nieces and nephews, teaching them a variety of skills from making meatloaf to driving the tractor. In the Walnut Leader in March of 2010, it was recorded that 75 years ago in an article about the Blue and White Home Eckers, “Can you imagine Harriet Durham without her smile?” Her warm smile and infectious laughter continued throughout her long life. She and Harold enjoyed learning about other cultures, hosting foreign students and traveling extensively throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. They traveled to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti on a farm tour. She taught herself to play the piano, and also enjoyed listening to music, singing and dancing. She and Harold danced at the Hub Ballroom in Edelstein to the music of Guy Lombardo and other swing bands. She was a member of the Farm and Home Club and the Birthday Club, Walnut. Mrs. Coulter was active in church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School at the Ohio Methodist Church. She was a past member of the board of trustees, past president of United Methodist Women, and United Methodist Women Circle leader at United Methodist Church, Princeton. Mrs. Coulter was formerly in charge of weddings and funeral luncheons at the church. She always enjoyed helping children and was active in Sonsational Kids, and the reading program at Lincoln School. She made cookies and candy for family and for young people in military service. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Ohio Library and served on the board for many years. She was past president of the Women’s Club of Princeton, and a board member of United Way of Bureau County. Survivors include two daughters, Jeanne (David) O’Melia of Milan; Carolyn (Ken Black) Coulter of Washington, Ill.; two grandsons, Mark O’Melia of Minneapolis, Minn., and Brian (Sopheary Mam) O’Melia of Blackhawk, Colo.; one stepgranddaughter, Kris Uhler of Evanston; two stepgrandsons, Jeff Uhler of Tampa, Fla., and Travis Black of Santa Monica, Calif.; and two great-grandsons, Adam and Austin O’Melia of Blackhawk, Colo. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Joan Adele Coulter; one sister, Beverly Knuth; and three brothers, Donald, George and Duane Durham. A memorial celebration of Harriet’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. April 9 at First United Methodist Church, Princeton, the Rev. Thomas Ostrander officiating. The family will receive friends at 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Limerick Cemetery with family in attendance at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday. Memorials may be directed to United Methodist Church of Princeton, United Way of Bureau County or the donor’s choice

Harriet B. Coulter

March 19, 1920 - March 15, 2011