Geraldine Marie Piper, 87, of Pleasant Hill, passed away April 13, 2004 at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville of health complications.

She was born Sept. 18, 1916 to Zina and Bessie Piper of St. Marie, IL.

A memorial service held at the Pleasant Hill Community Church.

Always thinking of education, Geri graciously donated her body to the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Her ashes will be interred at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Geri moved to Uplands village in 1987 after a very prolific career in public health. Geri was a registered dietitian and public health nutritionist by choice and training. She published numerous articles and held the Presidency of the American Dietetic Association, received the United States Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal, was named outstanding alumni of Eastern Illinois University and received the Arch of Achievement and Century Leader awards from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Geri promoted public heath and traveled through more than 45 countries during her tenure with the USPHS in Washington, DC. She accepted a uniformed officer's position with the USPHS in 1952 and, as Captain Piper, consulted nationally for the diabetes control program, gerontology and played a pivotal role in developing regulation for dietary services for skilled nursing homes, home health care, Meals on Wheels and developed the nationally known "Manpower" program. She worked with educators and administered government grants to colleges and universities training dietitians, dietary technicians and public health nutritionist for health care facilities and agencies.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Leola Boyce of Pleasant Hill, and her brother, Harold Piper of Champaign, IL. Her youngest sister, Dorothy Cabeen, still resides in Lynchburg, VA.

Crossville Chronicle (TN) ~ Thursday, April 1, 2004