Vera A. Caulum

Vera A. Caulum, 3100 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, age 103, Professor Emerita, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY died October 28, 2010. She moved to Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay in spring 1982. Born Oct. 17, 1907, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Altai Riggs Caulum, longtime residents of Sioux City, Iowa, whose parents were among the early settlers in the area of Woodbury and Monona counties. Miss Caulum joined the staff of the NYS College of Home Economics at Cornell University in 1945 to supervise the NYS Emergency Food Commission nutrition program. She was appointed an assistant professor and supervisor of county home economists the next year. At the time of her retirement in 1967, she was the Associate Director of Cooperative Extension at the University. Prior to her work at the University, Miss Caulum was a county home economist in Lewis, Oswego and Albany counties in NYS, and also had taught in Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City, Iowa public schools. A native of Sioux City, Miss Caulum attended Hawthorne Elementary and Central High School, earned the BS degree at Iowa State, Ames, Iowa and the MS degree at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY where she was awarded the Anna Cora Smith Scholarship for graduate study. She received the Certificate of Recognition from Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national honorary Extension Fraternity for leadership. She was cited for distinguished service and leadership by her alma mater, the Iowa State University College of Home Economics in 1971. She served on the executive committee of the Home Economics Division of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and was Division chairman for one year. During her career, she held memberships in a number of professional and honorary societies. She was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority and retained membership in Azure Chapter, OES in Sioux City, in which she was a charter member. In retirement, Miss Caulum traveled extensively doing family research in the U.S. and Norway. In collaboration with her late brother, Lindus L. Caulum, a privately published family history was issued in 1972, and updated in 2002. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Ithaca, NY. Survivors include a niece, Cynthia Caulum Michael and her extended family and the extended family of a predeceased niece, Diana Caulum Mentzer. A brother, L.L. Caulum and nephew, L.L. Caulum, II also predeceased her. The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to Ms. Ruthie J. Dean for her compassionate care and companionship and to friends and staff at Westminster-Canterbury for their interest and care. Services are private. Colonial Crematorium is handling arrangements.