Vincent, Carolyn B.
Waverly
& Carolyn
Carolyn B. Vincent
September 20, 1938 - - April 14, 2003
Carolyn grew up in Lansdowne, older sister to Barbara and Bobby. In high school we all remember her for her dry wit and steadfast friendship. She participated in the senior play, Glee Club, Art Committees and Choir.
She and I attended Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1959. We breakfasted at dawn in starched, striped dresses and aprons, reading scripture, saying prayers and singing hymns - - a sisterhood unlike any
Carolyn began her nursing career in Psychiatric Nursing. In 1962 she became a Flight Nurse with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and rose to the rank of Captain. She spent a year as a civilian nurse at the Army Hospital in Munich Germany. In 1969, Carolyn moved to Colorado and worked as a Psych Nurse at Denver General Hospital
She joined the Wyoming National Guard, and was soon chief nurse, training aero-medical evacuation technicians who provided care to U.S. troops injured in Viet Nam. In 1979 she was promoted to Lt. Colonel based upon her outstanding leadership and commitment. In 1985 she retired from the Guard after 21 years. She received The Colorado Meritorious Service Medal. During those years she also worked full time at Denver General Hospital. She became Nursing Operations Manager for Community Health. She received a BS in Nursing and became a certified nurse practitioner.
While visiting relatives in PA, she sustained a severe laceration from a dog bite and was hospitalized at Delaware County Memorial Hospital. During routine lab work, an unusually early diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made. She was without symptoms for years. The disease began its cruel battle in 1998, and Carolyn intellectualized the disease process. No doubt, she was the most informed patient with that diagnosis. She was a courageous warrior; in the end also having to battle the bureaucracy that has replaced the ideal Medicine we studied and worked in during our early careers.
Carolyn was devoted to her four nephews, left motherless when Barbara died in her early thirties. She provided love and care, nurturing, counsel and mentored each of them. She had many international friendships and remained loyal to her friends from Lansdowne.
She traveled East twice a year. I always saw her on these visits when we lived in DE and FL. In 2000 I spent a week with her in Denver and for the first time realized the extent of her illness. We drove to Santa Fe to meet other classmates from Presby. We retired each night hoarse from the talking and laughing we did each day. I am so thankful for those days with her.
Carolyn was a dear, cherished and caring friend, who “left footprints on our hearts.”
In loving memory
Waverly