DR. FOREST COULSON

Dr. Forest Hilton Coulson, 81, of Shreveport, La., died Friday, Aug. 23, 1996, at his home.

He was born May 5, 1915, in Ottumwa, Iowa, son of Elvin and Eleanor Peek Coulson.

Coulson graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1940, and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa.

He and Dr. Robert Hardin established and operated the blood bank in the European Theater during World War II. Coulson was chief executive officer of the 127th Station Hospital and was in charge of all technical operations of the blood bank. He received the Legion of Merit and a commendation from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.

After the war he returned to Burlington, Iowa, and established a practice of internal medicine. He was instrumental in establishing the first blood bank in Burlington, and organized the first chapter of the American Heart Association in Iowa.

He served as chief of staff at Burlington Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Burlington. He was a member of Des Moines County Medical Society and Iowa Clinical Medical Society.

Coulson moved to Cape Girardeau in 1971 and established a private practice in internal medicine at 35 Doctors' Park. He retired in 1990.

He was a member of American Medical Association, American Society of Internal Medicine, Missouri Medical Association, American Diabetes Association, and Cape Girardeau County Medical Society.

The Coulsons moved to Shreveport last spring.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia; a son, James Coulson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two daughters, Barbara Walker of Salem, Ore., Cathryn Jacoby of Decatur, Ill.; and five grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held later in Shreveport.