Roger Coulson

Roger Wayne Coulson was born in Burlington, Iowa on May 7, 1921 to Elvin and Eleanor Coulson. He was a dedicated educator and counselor throughout his career and his retirement.

He attended elementary school in Burlington, graduated from Fort Madison High School, and completed his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Iowa. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps on Peliliu Island during World War II. After his return, he taught high school English, Speech, and Dramatics and became the principal at Wilton High School in Wilton, Iowa. It was there that he met and, in 1949, married Bette Sunderlin. They spent the first 18 years of their married life in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he taught Educational Psychology at Butler University. Roger and Bette had two daughters, Sally and Jane, who were born and raised in Indianapolis. In 1968, the family moved to Ames for Roger to head the Child Development Department at Iowa State University. He retired from Iowa State in 1988 but continued to be actively involved in education, counseling, and other volunteer services.

Roger’s true passion was working with children and students. Children sensed his unconditional acceptance and he was continually amazed by their development, and all that could be learned from them.

He was an avid gardener. He grew copious quantities of vegetables and fruits in his garden and he loved sharing the bounty with family and friends. He also grew a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Whenever anyone remarked admiringly about a particular flower or shrub, Roger would dig up a start and send it home with them. Conversely, he could recall from where or from whom each of his plants had come.

Roger and Bette thoroughly enjoyed traveling. Summer vacations when their daughters were young were spent touring National Parks and historic sights throughout the U.S. In later years, Elderhostels provided a combination of travel, learning, and socialization that appealed to them immensely.

He was a voracious reader and a life-long learner. He was a member of several book groups, and the insights that he shared with the groups were much valued. His love of learning was also evident in his involvement in the development of the College for Seniors, and his ongoing efforts on its Curriculum Committee and its Board.

After their daughters were grown, their nest was seldom empty. Roger and Bette seized every opportunity they could to provide long-term housing and hospitality for foreign visitors or ISU students. In this way, over the years, they developed close friendships with people from Malaysia, Columbia, South Africa, Nigeria, and India, to mention a few.

During his career, Roger was especially proud of the Bureau of Educational Research and Service at Butler University, which he founded with his co-director, Dr. David P. Torbet, and of his service as a consultant to the Pastoral Care and Counseling Center in Indianapolis. His teaching and counseling in Indianapolis, in Boise, Idaho where he taught six summer sessions, and throughout Iowa, helped innumerable people to make positive changes in their lives. He especially enjoyed working with children, and helped many children overcome a variety of challenges, especially learning disabilities.

Roger’s professional memberships included: Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, National Education Association, Iowa State Teachers Association, Indiana State Teachers Association, National Council on Measurements in Education, American Psychological Association, Council for Exceptional Children, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, International Federation for Learning Disabilities, American Association for Human Development, and Child Safe.

In retirement, Roger was actively involved in the ISU Retirees Association. He enjoyed working with the Lincoln Highway Association and volunteering with the Ames Historical Society. In addition, Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation benefited from Roger’s years of volunteer counseling and his Parenting Class, as well as many other ministries. He was active in the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church in a various capacities, including serving as a delegate to Annual Conference and serving on the Board of Ordained Ministry.

Roger was a gentle spirit who exemplified Christian love. The legacy that he would want is for his principles of service to mankind and of acceptance and love of all of God’s children exactly as they are, to flourish throughout the world.

Roger Wayne Coulson passed peacefully from this life on September 17, 2013 in the presence of his family. He is missed each and every day by so very many people whose lives he blessed.