Dorothy La Verne Koelbl, 88, of Henderson, Kentucky, died Monday, July 9, 2018, at St. Anthony's Hospice Lucy Smith King Care Center in Henderson, Kentucky, from complications of COPD.

She was born in Brookfield, Illinois, on April 23, 1930, to the late Esther and Peter Koelbl.  Dorothy was the youngest of six children, Ruth Dixon, Audrey Baker, Donald Henry, Charles Peter, and Harold Marvin Koelbl, all of whom are now deceased.

Most of her childhood was spent in Mount Vernon, Ohio.  She attended Mount Carmel Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio, where she earned her RN and held the honor of earning the highest score in the state on the State Board of Nursing Exam.  Dorothy earned a BA in Nursing from Columbia University, New York.  Additionally, while on full academic scholarship, she earned a MS Degree in Maternal Child Nursing from Boston College.

She had a long career of Nursing positions mostly in educating nursing students, including Flint Community College, Seattle Hospital, and Milwaukee College.  Dorothy came to Kentucky to assume the leadership role at the Pennyrile Regional Nursing Program in its second year.  She retired from the Nursing Program at Henderson Community College with a rank of full professor.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, including Jack Koelbl, Daniel Baker, Debbie Wilson, Mike Koelbl, David Koelbl, Robert Koelbl, and Lynn Koelbl.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2018, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson, Kentucky.  Father Larry McBride will officiate.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2018, at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home in Henderson, Kentucky, where prayers will be said at 6 p.m. by Father Larry McBride.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21, 2018, at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Contributions may be made to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School or Henderson Community College Nursing Program.