Obituary of Gertrude Buss Couch

Gertrude Buss Couch, Ph.D. of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away on Monday, June 19, 2017 at Potomac Valley Nursing and Wellness Center in Rockville, Maryland. Known as Trudy, she lived a life of many adventures, accomplishments, and wonderful friends. Trudy was born on January 31, 1911 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to parents John W. and Gertrude (Friend) Buss. She grew up in Milwaukee and Shorewood, Wisconsin with her parents and younger sister. In 1934 she married Edmund Couch (deceased) and divorced in 1942. Trudy attended high school at the Downer Seminary in Milwaukee; University of Wisconsin, Bachelor of Arts 1931; University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Master of Arts 1946; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Ph.D. in health education in 1954. She was involved in a number of organizations including Mortar Board at the University of Wisconsin and Phi Kappa Phi in graduate school, and was a long time member of and presenter at the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. She held teaching positions at Milwaukee Downer Seminary, Lake Forest College, Ball State Teachers College, University of Illinois, and Wayne State University. She lived in a number of places throughout her career in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and North Carolina before finally moving to Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her interests included golf, music, swimming, and international travel. She wrote a booklet for assembling and organizing important documents, Getting It Together, that has had wide distribution in both print and digital versions. Trudy is survived by her loving daughters Barbara Bird-Sternstein (husband Alan Sternstein) of Halfmoon, NY and Joanne Cogar (husband David, deceased) of Washington D.C.; Grandchildren: Elizabeth (Damon) Lincourt of W. Lafayette, IN; William (Rumiko) Bird of Ann Arbor, MI, David (Danielle) Cogar, Jr. of Falls Church, VA and Kristen (Andrew) Burtle of Arlington, VA ; Great-grandchildren: Matthew Bird of Jackson, MS, Seira Bird of Ann Arbor, MI, Victoria Lincourt and Benjamin Lincourt of W. Lafayette, IN, Jackson Cogar and Mackenzie Cogar of Falls Church, VA, Lindsay Burtle and Landon Burtle of Arlington, VA; Nieces: Marcia Mower Smits-Dubec of Hinsdale, IL and Patti Mower Vigliotta of Salem, MA. She is predeceased by her sister, Margot Buss Mower, her grandson, Harry "Skip" Bird and close family friend, Pauline Brimhall. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 29, at 11am, at the Chapel of Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, Maryland. Reception to follow immediately after the memorial service. Cremated remains will be interred at a later date in the Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Memorial donations may be sent to JSSA Potomac Valley Nursing and Wellness Center, 1225 Potomac Valley Road, Rockville, MD 20850. Appreciation to the loving staff of Arbor Ridge Assisted Living, Evergreen Terrace, 2nd Floor. And to the caring, compassionate and supportive staff of the Potomac Valley Center.