Doris "Dodie" Lorraine Haug Cotner, 84, of Williamsport, succumbed to pneumonia at Williamsport Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013.
Dodie was born in Williamsport on July 10, 1928, to Charles D. Haug and Orpha Burd Haug. She attended all Williamsport schools, Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing, R.N. and Lycoming College. She was also a Red Cross nurse.
In the 1950s, she enjoyed working at Lycoming College as an instructor and as College Nurse, the head infirmary nurse. During the annual Little League World Series, players were housed on campus at Rich Hall, and treated in the infirmary; Dodie became the first Little League nurse. She remained on duty 24 hours a day during the annual Series, gave players physical exams upon their arrival, cared for everything from stomach upset to heat exhaustion, and, she recalled, would provide many players with baths and food. She found it to be a fun and rewarding experience to meet and care for numerous youngsters from so many different places.
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Doris ‘Dodie’ Cotner
Dodie married William "Bill" C. Cotner, also of Williamsport, and his career in the steel industry led them to reside in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Dunkirk, N.Y.; Fredonia, N.Y.; Albany, N.Y.; Portsmouth, Ohio; and Huntington, W.Va.
Over the years, she remained quite active in community affairs, including hospital fund raising drives, chairmanship of annual Hospital Balls and theater productions. She taught Sunday school, and served on various church committees. During her years as Docent at the Huntington Galleries in West Virginia, she was proud to be certified to show the famous Armand Hammer traveling exhibit. After 34 years, she and her husband retired to their hometown of Williamsport.
Her leisure interests included world travel, duplicate bridge, golf, tennis and her Steelers!
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, William C. Cotner, their only child, William C. Cotner Jr., two brothers and four sisters.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, 1301 Clayton Ave., Williamsport, with Pastor Michael S. Swimley officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Wildwood Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Dodie's name may be sent to Susquehanna Hospice, 1100 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.
