Dr. Doris R Schoel, 94, of Elverson, Pa., passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Friday, December 27th, peacefully, at her daughters residence in Robesonia, Lebanon County, Pa.
Doris was born in Mortonville, Pa. on March 27, 1919, a daughter of the late Naomi (Marshman) Martinsen and Charles H. Rowe.
She graduated from Coatesville High School and continued her education at Bryn Mawr Hospital School of Nursing. She then received her Bachelors in Nursing from Villanova, her Masters in Education from University of Pennsylvania and her doctorate in Education and Human Development from Temple University.
Doris was employed as a nurse and educator at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa. She first worked as a nurse at Bryn Mawr Hospital and then as a professor of nursing and also a curriculum developer at West Chester University. She developed the Pennsylvania State College Curriculum for Nursing. She founded a protective service program for women arrested in Philadelphia to have a female protective guard. Her community research focused upon the needs of pregnant women by improving the well-baby clinics. Additional community support was developing homes for unwed mothers as she helped develop more successful programs for unwed mothers in Philadelphia. She was honored in Who's Who of American Women 1977-1980.
Doris was a poet and author. Her book, "Echo's At Twilight," recounts her memories of her marvelous Chester County life. Her recent historical non-fiction, "Message by Horseback," comes "from a very large collection of Anglican missionary letters dated and mailed from PA and surrounding states to England"; the tale of missionaries, their personal, spiritual, and professional lives on horseback, joys, and hardships in colonial America between 1745-1776.
She has served on numerous civic committees, opened her gorgeous gardens and historical, Robeson House, for public tours, enlivening appreciation of the arts, literature, science, history, and human relations. She taught English as a second language in her home, nursed back to life wounded birds and stray animals, protected and housed needy women in harms way. She received the Community Service Award from Owen J. Roberts Educational Foundation in 2006 and created numerous beautiful oil paintings of natures wonders. She is remembered for her selfless service and thoughtfulness of the needs of others.
She was the widow of Harry F. Schoel.
Doris is survived by a daughter, Linda (Law), wife of Hubert P. Beck, of Robesonia; granddaughters Dawn, Delinda, Carly and Pamela; four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her oldest daughter, Judy Jacobs.
A memorial service will be held at the Historic Saint Mary's Chapel, 161 Warwick Road , Elverson PA on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 1 p.m. There will be a social time from noon until time of service. Graveside services will be held on March 30, 2014 at 1 p.m. in Hepzibah Baptist Church Cemetery, Coatesville, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Historic Saint Mary's Chapel C/o Alan Lindsay 1818 Horseshoe Trail, Chester Springs, PA 19425.
Arrangements entrusted to the John P. Feeney Funeral Home, in Reading's Centre Park Historic District. 625 N 4th St. at Centre Ave (Route 61) Reading, PA 19601. Obituary and condolences at www.johnfeeneyfuneralhome.com
