Estelle Tulloss Obituary (1918 - 2014)

Estelle Kennedy Hutchins Tulloss Harrisonburg, VA Estelle Kennedy Hutchins Tulloss, lover of birds, flowers, learning and especially her family, passed away on March 9, 2014. She is preceded in death by her revered parents, Dr. Elliott Holdsworth Hutchins and Ernestine Stier Dulaney Hutchins; and beloved sisters Anne Holdsworth Hutchins Cresap, Emma Lou Dulaney Hutchins Russell and Mary Jean Hutchins Ridgely; and a grandchild, Sarah Elizabeth King Tulloss. She is survived by her devoted husband of 70 years, Joseph Carroll Tulloss, and her four children: Rodham Elliott Tulloss, wife Mary, of Roosevelt, NJ; Thomas Carroll Tulloss of Heidelberg, Germany, fiancee Eva Miklody; Catherine Hutchins Tulloss Brookhart, husband Walter, of Houston, TX; and Estelle Keener Tulloss Wagner, husband Donald, of Moyers, WV. Also surviving are three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and long-time good friend of the family, Mabel H. Holt. Estelle's husband and children were her life, and they benefitted greatly from her high standards. To her husband, she was a loving, supportive, and faithful helpmate. She lived examples for her children, without thought or effort, of self-control, patience, loyalty, integrity, frugality, dignity, persistence, graciousness, mutual respect, common sense, putting oneself last, and the list could go on. She was a master encourager and close friend to each of her children throughout their lives. Estelle was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, exercising her keen intelligence at Roland Park Country School and earning her B.A. at Goucher College, where she became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Estelle and Carroll married in 1943 at First Methodist Episcopal Church. She worked at Johns Hopkins University as a statistician prior to raising four children. She was Room Mother every year she had a child in elementary school and taught children's Sunday School for years. She volunteered as Den Mother for her sons in Scouts, and as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters. The Central Maryland Girl Scout Council awarded her their Thanks Badge for active and lengthy service. She was also active in the Maryland Ornithological Society, Meals on Wheels, and the Church and Synagogue Libraries Association. In Weems, VA, where they moved in 1983, after her husband retired, she continued with Meals on Wheels, was on the board of the local Audubon Society, was a docent at old Christ Church, volunteered at the Kilmarnock library, and enjoyed providing flowers for the altar of their church from her flower beds. In 2000, they moved to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA, where Estelle helped establish and enjoyed working in the library, making many new friends. She was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church. There are no words for how much she will be missed, for there is no earthly replacement for her kind of compassionate love. The family understands that Estelle's friends may wish to do something in her memory. A memorial contribution in her name to the charity of a friend's choice is suggested. According to her wishes, there will be no memorial service. Those wishing to share a memory or an online condolence may do so by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com Arrangements entrusted to McMullen Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA.