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Submitted: 1/12/25 • Approved: 1/17/25 • Last Updated: 1/20/25 • R510474-G510473-S3
AIRMAN THIRD CLASS US Air Force
May 20, 1941 - January 1, 2021
In declining health since March and after a week’s long battle with Pneumonia, Selma Freshour Gollmitzer, also known as Selma P to some, (though she hated the P with a passion) Daughter, Sister, Niece, Cousin, Wife, Mom, Aunt, Grandma, Gigi, Mrs Selma, teacher, friend, and confidant to others, passed away peacefully at her home in Marshall, Texas surrounded by family New Year’s Day, 2021 at the age of 79.
Born May 20, 1941 in Lafayette, Indiana to Kenneth & Verna (Dyer) Freshour she was named for her Aunt and was a self-described spoiled child, used to things being done a certain way, the right way-the first time. Together with her sister and cousins, she spent lots of time on their Grandparents farm where they had many experiences and made memories that carried them throughout their lives. Being around the animals and helping care for her Grandfather over the course of a lengthy illness, fostered a passion for helping others that would eventually lead her into nursing. Following her 1970 graduation from Purdue University School of Nursing, she built a career that would span 40 plus years, much of which was spent in critical care nursing and as an Emergency Room Supervisor at St Elizabeth Hospital, as well as in the Operating room with Dr Ed Wagoner, both in Lafayette, Indiana. Later she worked in the Operating Room and Rehabilitation at Doctor’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana where she remained until her retirement. Over the course of her career, she built lifelong relationships, mentored, and helped others fine tune their own careers and develop new skills that afforded them countless opportunities above and beyond anything that she could have envisioned and more than anything, she adored her St E Family.
A 1959 Graduate of Battle Ground High School, she was the class Valedictorian, played in the school band, participated in 4-H and was active in both Rainbow and her church youth group. She was immensely proud of where she came from as well as those she grew up with, and always longed for to return to a small community where everyone knows each other’s name and the pace was a bit slower. She realized that dream in 1993 when she fell in Love with a little piece of East Texas in Elysian Fields where she would feel at and make her forever home.
In 1960, Selma joined the Air Force where she not only met her future husband, but lifelong friends Pat and Frank Korchnak, with whom she remained dear friends for over 61 years. On October 14. 1961, she married Raymond in Los Angeles, California before returning to Battle Ground, Indiana where she would raise her family on the land and in the home where she had grown up. Together they had 3 children, William (Kathy) Gollmitzer, Leslie (Ed) Criswell, and Tracey (Mike) Hoiles, 12 Grandchildren, 4 Grand Spouses, 10 Great Grandchildren, and 10 exchange students whom she loved and treated as her Grandchildren, each of whom she was overwhelmingly proud of. Her family was her life and no matter how busy, she always made room at the table and in her heart for friends old and new, as well as for the acquaintances she acquired along the way.
She loved to sew and did so very well. Early in her married life she made extra money as a seamstress, making custom wedding dresses for local brides to put herself through college. Over time, she would design dresses for each of her daughters and some of her Granddaughters weddings, each spectacular. She did not want to be seen as a crafter-but she always had a project or three in the works and made incredible things. Her most favorite was the sweater made for her Nephew when he was born. Once it was finished, she swore she’d never knit again, and she didn’t, but she talked about it forever. For a time she raised Pygmy Goats and would often have the little guys in a playpen in the living room, which was something, considering she did not allow animals in the house. She was a strong lifelong supporter of 4-H and Scouting and made sure that her children, Grandchildren and eventually Great Grandchildren were involved, because each represented values that she held dear. Serving as a Girl Scout Leader for her Granddaughter’s troop in Elysian Fields from Brownies through her Senior year of High School. She served as camp nurse for several years and scouting events and served on many Scouting Boards and was an extreme cookie Mom, with a maze of cookies stacked from the floor to ceiling throughout her home every spring. She delighted in the fact that “her girls” not only stuck together as kids, with most remaining involved in the troop through the end of High School-and all going on to become successful young women and true lifelong friends. As the years passed, she would become a Boy Scout Leader for both of her Great Grandsons packs, serving as a Day Camp Nurse and project coordinator and until this past spring was actively involved in helping them achieve the goals that the program stands for. She loved every second without question.
A member of Bethyl United Methodist Church in Elysian Fields, Texas until her health made participation impossible, she cherished her relationship with friends and former Pastor Harold and Jeanette Coburn and the members of the organizations in which she participated. She absolutely loved helping with the meal preparation for the youth groups.
She is preceded in death by husband of 58 years, Judge Raymond F Gollmitzer, Parents Kenneth & Verna Freshour and Brother Leonard Francis Freshour, Cousin Frederick Wood (Woody) Anderson, and Nephew Jay Bradley Patterson.
In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by Sister Leta (Herb) Hubner, Sisters in Laws Doreen Carpenter, Joan (Don) Zagora, Christine Jones, and Hope (Dave) Knybel, many Nieces & Nephews, Cousins Lib (Woody) Anderson, John (Barb Dyer,) Mike (Wilda) Dyer, Judy, Jane, Jennifer Murtaugh, Joyce Funk, Verna (Dick) Crooks and their families. And far, far too many friends to list by name but who meant the world to her.
Special thanks to Jerry O’Neil with Texas Home Health Care Hospice, her personal assistant Katilyn Hoskins and Tod Mayer, who was an amazing help to both she and the family, but most especially during her final months.
A memorial service will be held at a time when the restrictions of Covid are lifted to allow us to honor her properly.
Interment will be at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville Louisiana with Military Honors.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think on these things.
Memorial Contributions if desired can be made to Patriot Paws 254 Ranch Trail, Rockwall, Texas 75032
Section 8 Site 272
Contributed on 1/12/25 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 510474