The Life of Lois V. Gartside

Lois V. Gartside (nee Ketran), age 97 of Audubon PA and Ocean City NJ, passed away on February 6, 2019.

Born in Philadelphia on June 27, 1921 Lois attended Philadelphia Girls High School and went on to Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing followed by nurse anesthetist training at the Polyclinic Hospital in New York City.

Drawn to serve her country, she enlisted in the US Army and served from 1943-1946. She supervised operating rooms at the Army base in Fort Monroe Virginia and Okinawa Japan. Lois went on to receive her BS in Nursing Education from the University of Pennsylvania and received her Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Teachers college Columbia University in 1950. At the time there were only 200 nurses in the United States with this advanced degree. After the service Lois worked for the General Electric Company supervising the health of foundry workers became the Director of Nursing of Memorial Hospital in Wilmington Delaware, the Director of Nursing of the University of Pennsylvania and ended her career as the school nurse for Lansdowne Aldan high school. She was well known for her clinical expertise, management abilities and incredible organizational skills.

Lois met her late husband of 52 years Thomas Arthur Gartside at Fort Monroe and they were married at the Valley Forge Military Academy. Tom and Lois were exceptional partners and avid travelers. Together they planned and independently traveled all over the world spending time in China, Russia, Egypt, Africa and every part of Europe many times.

Her beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lois is survived by her daughter Dr. Roberta Gartside a plastic surgeon (Dr. Michael Silverstein) of McLean Virginia and grandchildren Leah and Stephen Silverstein. Her daughter Judith Bachman of Philadelphia the Chief Operating Officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Jeanes Hospital. Granddaughter Kristen Wade (Robert Wade) and great grandchildren Riley and Reagan. Grandson Eric Bachman (Juli Bachman).

Interment and services are private.