Caroline Dowdell Underwood, 97

Caroline Dowdell Underwood, 97 Caroline Dowdell Underwood passed away peacefully on February 26, 2016 at Pennswood Village, Newtown, PA where she was a resident for twenty years. She was 97. Born in Denver, CO, she was the daughter of Jessica Dowdell Underwood and Julius E. Underwood, Sr. Caroline earned a BA degree at Swarthmore College and an MS at Western Reserve University in Library Science. She began her career as a Secretary in the Math Department at the University of Pennsylvania. She was then commissioned in the US Naval Reserve and worked as a Personnel Officer and Secretary to the Commanding Officer of the US Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, VA. Later she served as Secretary to the Civil Service Ordinance Officer, also at the Naval Proving Ground. She then entered the Inactive Naval Reserve and retired as a Commander. Following her military service Caroline also worked as a postwar Administrative Officer in the School of Math at the Institute For Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ. She was involved in numerous volunteer activities, some of which included service as a monitor and bookmarker for Recording for the Blind; at First Presbyterian Church of Cranberry, NJ; as computer operator, office assistant, librarian, and member and librarian of the choir at Rossmoor; and numerous offices for the Rossmoor Solos. She also did volunteer work on several committees at Pennswood Village. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother Jude Underwood. She is survived by two nieces, Carole Underwood Bruere of Albuquerque, NM and Susan Underwood of Bothell, WA; two cousins, Helen Dowdell, of Newtown, PA and Ruth Dowdell of Freehold, NJ; and many friends. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hancock Funeral Home, Philadelphia, PA (215-332-1099) and will be announced at a later time. Interment will be private. A memorial service to celebrate Caroline’s life will be held at Penn Hall, Pennswood Village, 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown, PA on April 2, 2016 at 10:00 am. Remembrance contributions can be directed to the Fellowship Fund of Pennswood Village at the same address. Family and friends wish to express their sincere thanks to the Woolman Center of Pennswood Village, and to Compassionate Care Hospice, Bensalem, PA for the wonderful care they provided to Caroline preceding her death.