Gladys May (Kamps) Edgerton, a 1942 graduate of Hopkins High School, died Jan. 11 in Lake Ariel, Pa. She was 93.
She and her husband, Donald Edgerton, who passed away in 2006, were longtime residents of Allegan, MI.
Gladys Kamps was born in Kalamazoo on May 29, 1924, to Henry Hiriam Harriet L. (Loew) Kamps. Gladys was the oldest of a family of seven daughters and a son.
After graduating from Hopkins High School, she enrolled in the Army World War II Cadet Nursing Corps and graduated with her RN in 1945. Part of her nursing study involved working at Fort Custer in Battle Creek with wounded soldiers from the theaters of war.
Gladys married Donald Avery Edgerton on June 23, 1948, in Hopkins. Don’s sister Margaret Edgerton was one of Gladys’ roommates in nursing school.
Nursing was a significant part of Gladys life. She returned to it over and over after having four children. As a nurse, she worked in Allegan General Hospital, did private duty nursing, worked in doctors’ offices, and finished her career working the Allegan County Department of Public Health running a children’s screening clinic.
There were many incidents in her nursing career where she was instrumental in saving people’s lives. Gladys was a lifelong participant in the Harvard Nurses’ Study which is a widely referenced, reliable health study based on self-reporting of a nurse’s own medical conditions and outcomes. Gladys was a member of the MI Nurses Association and the Allegan District Nurses. For many years she was in charge of the District Nurses’ Scholarship Program.
Gladys and Don had an active life working and raising their family. Both were involved in the Boy Scouts of America program, with both their sons and for their grandsons. They enjoyed square dancing and were active with a square dance group for many years. Gladys was active with the Hopkins Methodist Church and the Allegan Baptist Church at various times during her life.
She is survived by her remaining children: Charlene E. Edgerton (PA), Douglas A. Edgerton (MI), and Deborah S. Edgerton (MI). Her two surviving sisters are: Mrs. Margaret Nelson (Pete) (MI), and Mrs. Jean Mack (MI & FL), plus 6 grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.
Gladys was predeceased by her oldest son, Donald Eugene Edgerton (DEE), her husband Donald Avery Edgerton, her parents, and many of her siblings.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, 528 Trowbridge St. Allegan where the funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, followed by interment in Miner Cemetery, WatsonI. There will be a funeral reception immediately following at the Grill House, 1071 32nd St. (M40S), Allegan.
Memorials on behalf of Gladys M. Edgerton may be given to Bronson School of Nursing Scholarship program, part of Western Michigan University.
