- TIGARD -Thula May Ramsey Trullinger, much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She died peacefully at her home in Tigard in the presence of her family on October 25, 2011 at the age of 94. Those who knew her well, will remember Thula for her thoughtfulness, energy, honesty, and service to others. She believed in hard work, consideration, good manners, good education, and self-sacrifice.
Born February 9, 1917 in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, Thula was the second of four siblings. She was the first in her family to complete high school and graduate from college at the University of Minnesota, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing. After an additional year of study, along with a friend, she moved to Oregon to work as a nurse. They both soon enlisted in the Army Corps of Nurses, to serve in the war effort. After the end of WWII, Thula returned to Oregon and her work as a Public Health Nurse. She was employed by the Clackamas County Health Department, where she met, and later married, Dan P. Trullinger, M.D. A few years after their wedding, they moved to Salem where they raised their four children. Thula was employed for many years at the Marion County Health Department, and the friendships she made there, were a joy to her in her life. She was a school nurse and later a nurse facilitator for the Salem Head Start program. She retired in 1985 and moved to Tigard to be near her family. She continued to volunteer as a nurse in her retirement years.
Thula had diverse interests, preferred keeping very busy, and was always humble about her talents and skills. A child of the Great Depression era, she usually dedicated herself to any job, activity, or pastime with complete effort and gratitude for the opportunity to participate. She was an active member of the Unitarian Church in Salem, and participated in its Women's Alliance, where she formed many life long friendships. She was always active with her family and enjoyed time with her grandchildren and great grandchild. An avid reader, opera listener, crafter and seamstress, Thula also traveled abroad with good friends during her retirement. She enjoyed knitting, smocking, quilting and woodcarving, though her true passion was always baking. She baked bread weekly for decades and truly excelled at baking cookies and pies. Thula's family and friends received her home baked holiday treats until the last year of her life.
Her health was very good until late 2010, when heart issues triggered a year long decline. Thula was preceded in death by her husband in 1971, and she is survived by her four children, Elizabeth Kenney of Aurora, Thula Edwards of Lake Oswego, Dan Trullinger of Tigard, Janet Trullinger (Crawford) of Portland, and her six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is also survived by her sister Wyona Bartsch of Wilsonville, and her brothers Robert and Warren Ramsey of South Saint Paul, Minnesota. At Thula's request there will be a private burial and no service. Cards or remembrances may be sent to Dan Trullinger or the American Heart Association .
Published in Statesman Journal on November 9, 2011
U.S., Social Security Death Index,1935-2014
Name: Thula M. Trullinger
BORN: 9 Feb 1917
Died: 25 Oct 2011
State (Year) SSN issued: Minnesota (Before 1951)
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1917 - 2011 (94 years)
