Florence Dunbar Kerr

1917 - 2014

Florence Dunbar Kerr

Florence Dunbar Kerr passed away in Seattle WA February 6,

2014 at age 96. Florence was born in East Cleveland OH in December 1917 and grew up in Cleveland OH, graduating from Collinwood High School in 1936. She attended the College of Wooster in Wooster OH and graduated with a history major in 1940. There she met her husband-to-be Robert McFarland Kerr her sophomore year. She and Bob married at her family home in Cleveland August 8, 1942. The couple lived first in Washington DC then Camden NJ while Bob served in the Army Air Force, and moved to East Cleveland OH in 1947 after Bob was discharged.

Florence was a member of First Presbyterian Church in East Cleveland OH from her birth until she moved to Seattle. She taught Sunday school and was member and sometimes the moderator for Presbyterian Women for many years. Florence was a Girl Scout leader and active in the PTA. She earned her masters of library science at Western Reserve University in 1968 and worked as a school librarian at East High School and then Collinwood Junior High. Florence and Bob enjoyed summer vacations at their cottage in Chautauqua NY.

In 1985 Bob and Florence moved to the retirement community Breckenridge Village in Willoughby OH where they both played leadership roles and loved to garden. Bob died in 1998; they had been married for 55 years. Florence loved Ohio but moved to Seattle WA in 2005 to be close to her daughter Beth. She first lived at Ida Culver Ravenna then in 2007 she moved to Cristwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Shoreline WA where she had many friends, again held leadership positions, and received compassionate, loving care.

Florence was devoted to her family. She enjoyed bird watching, travel, games such as bridge and scrabble, genealogical research, reading, and learning new information. Florence was civic minded and was quick to address unfairness, to offer help to others, to tackle problems, and to promote education at all levels.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Robertson and Frances Dunbar; her husband Robert McFarland Kerr; her sister Elizabeth Dunbar Erdman; and her son Robert Dunbar Kerr. She is survived by her sister Jane Dunbar Halsted of Columbus NC; two daughters, Beth Kerr of Seattle WA and Nancy Kerr (Mark Hauswald) of Telluride CO, one grandson Erik Hauswald of Albuquerque NM and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Florence Kerr to:

(1) The College of Wooster Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund via check to The College of Wooster (memo line Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund) and mailed to: College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Ave Wooster OH 44691, or (2) Breckenridge Village Life Care Fund via check mailed to: Breckenridge Village, 36855 Ridge Rd, Willoughby, OH 44094, or (3) The Good Samaritan Fund at CRISTA Senior Living (Assists residents in need of financial resources) via check to "Good Samaritan Fund" and mailed to: CRISTA Senior Living, 19303 Fremont Ave North Mailstop 15, Shoreline, WA 98133.