 Linda Kulp
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Pat Lawrence
For thirty five years, Linda Kulp was an integral part of Parkersburg’s St. Joseph’s hospital, serving as chief operating officer during her last ten years there. Friends were delighted when she was offered the CEO position at Kentucky’s Marymount Medical Center, happy to see her abilities recognized, glad to see he skills acknowledged. Linda carefully balanced her professional duties with her personal responsibilities which included tending to her husband, diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. She stayed in close touch with her friends, even after the move to London, Kentucky.
But in an incomprehensible turn of events, Linda was murdered, apparently by her husband, who killed himself soon afterward.
Stunned and confounded by the tragically senseless death, Linda’s network of friends searched for some way to focus on her wonderfully purposeful life.
Sheryl Holdren, a business consultant who worked with Linda for years at St. Jospeh’s and later at Marymount, was inspired and encouraged by her friend to take the plunge and go into business for herself. She says, “All of us wanted Linda remembered for the good things she did, not the way she died.”
The group set out to establish a non-traditional fund that would help women who wanted to improve their careers and life position. With the family’s blessing and the appointment of a council of ten advisers, the Women’s Opportunity Fund-Linda H. Culp Memorial Fund was established and the group began raising the money to make their wish a reality. In 2004, the fund, held by the Parkersburg Community Foundation, was endowed with $25,000. Sheryl says, “We hope to make it $100,000. This isn’t money to send high school girls to college. It is money to help women make the most of their lives.”
The first scholarships were awarded on the first anniversary of Linda’s death.
Lisa Rose of Belpre, OH received $1000 to study medical office practice at the Wood County Technical Center. Carolyn Connelly and Lanette Myers of Parkersburg received $500 to pursue nursing degrees. Linda Dotson, also from Parkersburg; received $500 toward a degree in social work.
This year, the scholarship recipients included $500 for Michelle Blouir of Cairo, WV, who is studying to become a registered nurse, $500 for Ripley’s Jodie Hicks to pursue a degree in Business Technology at WVU-P, and $500 each for Linda Dotson and Carolyn Connelly so they could continue their nursing studies.
Linda Kulp’s ten best friends include Sheryl Holdren, now an independent business consultant, Abby Hayhurst, the Director of the Parkersburg Art Center, physicians Sandy Sabo and Cristina Estrada, Candace Jones, responsible for physician relations at St. Joseph’s Hospital, retired realtor Doris Dunn, Judy Shostedt, Executive Director of the Parkersburg Community Foundation, Irene Seely, who retired from the Human Resources department of Dupont, Janice Midcap, Director of Quality and Health Information Management at St. Joseph's Hospital and Wood County speech pathologist Ann Emrick.
They are women helping other women, something Linda Kulp believed in and practiced, personally and professionally. Determined to turn the tragedy of her death into a celebration of her life, the ten women on the advisory council of the Women’ Opportunity Fund have made certain Linda’s legacy is one of hope and achievement. It’s an honor to her memory and an eloquent farewell to their friend.
To Contact Sheryl Holdren, call 740-989-2447. Send correspondence or contributions to the Women’s Opportunity Fund-Linda H. Culp Memorial Fund, c/o Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, PO Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26102-1762.
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