Eva Leota Dunnagan Kuitert, a resident of Gainesville, FL passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Trenton, Florida. She was 96 years old. Eva was born on August 5, 1919 in Lynchburg, Ohio, the daughter of Fred and Clara Dunnagan. She had 2 sisters and a brother. Eva received her Registered Nursing degree from Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio and worked at Cincinnati’s Childrens Hospital until May 1942 when she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corp. She served as a surgical nurse in North Africa and Italy during World War II and was awarded 2 Bronze Stars for Meritorious Duty. In January 1946 Eva married Louis Kuitert whom she had met while both were stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison before overseas deployment. They moved to Gainesville in 1948 where Lou pursued a career as a professor of Entomology at the University of Florida. Eva supported her husband’s endeavors and raised their three children. In 1959 they were one of five families to start Trinity Methodist Church. She was very active in the church, sang in the Chancel Choir, was a member of United Methodist Women, the Dunkers Sunday School class, and ALERT. She was also a volunteer at Alachua General Hospital for 48 years. Eva was involved with University Women, Ag Women and the Gainesville Garden Club. In 1964 Eva returned to nursing at the Alachua County Public Health Department. Eva was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Louis C. Kuitert. She is survived by her children; Sharon Nelson, Alachua, FL, Linda Bryant, Gainesville FL, Robert Kuitert and his wife Cindy, High Springs, FL, seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Her family is especially grateful to all the caring staff at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Trenton, Florida and to Haven Hospice of North Central Florida. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday October 23, 2015 in the Chapel at Trinity United Methodist Church 4000 NW 53rd Avenue Gainesville, FL 32653. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church’s “Building Fund” or to Haven Hospice 4200 NW 90th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606.
