Doris Parker Kittle
July 1, 1931 — January 5, 2024
Charleston
Doris Parker Kittle
Doris was preceded in death by her parents Kermit "Joe" Parker and Stella Bellish Parker, and her son Doug Kittle.
Doris is survived by her daughter Kathy LaPorte and her husband Bob; her son Kevin Kittle and his wife Tami; her sister, Fran Bateman, nephew, Steve Bateman and his wife Coleen; niece Lisa Sirag and her husband David; grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Doris' love for her family was unparalleled and set the foundation for who her children became as they grew into adulthood. She was fiercely protective of her family, near and far, and was always supportive of her children.
Doris attended Fairview High School and graduated with many Honors including valedictorian. She continued to accomplish further goals by earning her Registered Nurse diploma from the Fairmont General Hospital nursing program.
Doris was on her path to becoming a leader in the Geriatric field of study. She earned licenses from the West Virginia Board of Nursing and the Georgia Board of Nursing. She earned her American Nurses Association of Gerontological Nursing certification and continued her education with a Certificate in Gerontology from Georgia State University.
Doris became a professional member in the American Nurses Association, the Georgia Nurses Association, the Gerontological Council for Nurses, and the Georgia Gerontology Society. Her continued leadership in gerontology garnered advocacy memberships in the Gwinnett Senior Providers Network, the Georgia Council on Aging (CO-Age), the Georgia Society on Aging, the DeKalb County Human Services Team, the Women's Health Coalition, the Georgia Medical Care Foundation, the Coalition for Adult Immunization, the Board of Georgia Gerontology Society, and the Mayor's Walk Committee.
Throughout her career, Doris dedicated herself to serving others. She enjoyed teaching and sharing her extensive knowledge by volunteering to be a guest speaker and lecturer for churches, older adult educational seminars, American Association for Retired Persons, private corporations and businesses, Life Enrichment, Retired Federal Employees Association, State and County Agencies.
Doris' teaching and speaking engagements helped gain exposure to topics that were not common to talk about in society. She was a groundbreaker with teaching at colleges, universities, law enforcement agencies, hospice organizations, hospital organizations, Division of Family and Care Services, and institutes.
Doris' expertise led her to facilitate workshops with subjects such as normal aging, sexuality and aging, practical approach to aging, normal aging process and elder abuse, differentiation of depression and dementia, approaches to dealing with problem behaviors in nursing homes, Georgia elder care and the law, and the developmental aspects of aging.
She worked at Wesley Woods Center of Emory University from 1970 until her retirement in 2002. Her career began as a Night Nurse, and she worked her way up to Nurse Manager and Clinical Care Coordinator. Her final position was as a Wellness Nurse for Residential Facilities from June 1999 until her retirement in 2002.
Prior to that, she held roles such as Community Education Liaison and Information and Referral Specialist at Wesley Woods Center on Aging at Emory University. Doris also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, Center for Geriatrics. Her passion for helping the elderly led her to be an Information and Referral Specialist and Triage Specialist for Aging Helpline at Wesley Woods Center on Aging, where she actively participated in community education initiatives.
Her dedication to helping older adults continued after she moved to South Carolina. She was an active volunteer at Lowcountry Senior Center. Eventually she became a board member. Because of her many hours of services for the Greater Charleston Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council, she was a Gifts of Aging Honoree recipient.
She maintained an avid interest in the world around her. She traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. She followed current affairs and enjoyed discussing them. Her world also included her cat. She always had a rescue one in her home.
Doris Parker Kittle's dedication to the well-being of others has left a lasting impact on those she cared for and worked with. Her legacy of compassion and commitment to education will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her.
If you wish to donate in her memory, please consider any organization that helps people in your community or animal rescue organizations.
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