Geraldine Pritchett

Geraldine (Aker) Pritchett died April 23, 2018 at Autumn Glen Assisted Living facility, of cancer.

She was born Jan. 31,1931 to Dr. Charles L. and Marie B. (Gatewood) Aker in Mooresville.

Geri spent many after-school evenings and weekends driving her father to house calls in Putnam County before graduating from Greencastle High School in 1948. She subsequently graduated from DePauw University with a BA in nursing in 1952 and from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.

After working as a nurse at IUPUI in Indianapolis for several years Geri returned to Greencastle in 1962 as the fiercely independent mother of two boys. She worked nights at Putnam County Hospital the better to accommodate that role, then secured the evening plant nurse position at IBM.

In her "spare" time, she taught her sons how to camp, how to collect maple sap and make syrup, how to find mushrooms, how to make sassafras tea from tree roots, how to drive a '62 Scout with a 3-on-the-tree, how to fish, how to ride horses, how to identify birds by their song, how to clean up after ourselves, be self-sufficient, and make the most out of every possible moment.

After IBM left Greencastle, she worked a few years at DePauw Health Center before returning to Putnam County Hospital, where she retired as night supervisor in 1996.

Geri was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles L. (Jr.) and Robert M. Aker, and son David.

She is survived by a son, Charles, a granddaughter, Phoebe, and great-grandson, David.

Mom was a woman of many passions and her passion was always absolute; whether sons, horses, nature, music, singing, National Public Radio, proper patient care, patients, or people with problems on the other end of Putnam County's volunteer crisis helpline. Her passion and enthusiasm never wavered, not even after a cancer diagnosis.

Another of her great passions was the proper treatment and caring for the animals that depend upon humans. She was, therefore, a huge supporter of the Humane Society. Please give a memorial contribution on her behalf to the Putnam County Humane Society, P.O. Box 444, Greencastle, IN 46135 or online at http://hspcanimals.org/

No funeral or memorial service is planned.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at the Putnam Inn in Greencastle from 1-5 p.m.