Obituary of H. Louise Zimmerman

Helen Louise Stryker Zimmerman of Columbia, MD, passed away January 29, 2023, peacefully in
her sleep at the age of 99. Louise, Weezie as she was known to many, was born October 5,
1923, in Perryville, MD, to William B. and Edith N. Stryker. She graduated from Perryville High
School and then went on to the Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing, receiving a
degree in nursing in 1944.

While in training Louise met her future husband, Loy M. Zimmerman, who was at the same
time completing his medical internship at Maryland General. In an early encounter, the story
goes, when she asked what she should do for a cold, Loy responded, try a shot of whiskey.
Regardless, they fell in love and were married in Atlantic City on June 27, 1943—on the sly as
nursing students were not at the time permitted to be married—just before Loy was shipped
off to basic training in the Army Medical Corps. After the war Loy established his medical
practice as a general practitioner in Baltimore, and together they raised a family of five
children. Before Loy passed away at the age of 90, they celebrated 65 years of marriage.
Louise was passionate about reading and learning. She had an artist's eye for beautiful things,
loved trees, and took in every stray animal and a few stray kids. In her youth Louise was quite
athletic and game for adventures. She was fond of reminiscing how as a girl she swam the
Susquehanna River. Later in life she enjoyed annual family vacations in Ocean City, games of
bridge with friends, and travel.

Louise was predeceased by her husband Loy and her son Eric. She is survived by her children,
Loy Zimmerman, Mark Zimmerman, Carl Zimmerman, & Amy Zimmerman, daughter-in-law
Kenda Zimmerman, Mark’s wife Carolyn Zimmerman, and Amy’s husband Gordon Ross, as well
as her grandchild Stefan Zimmerman, his wife Ginny, and their children Owen, Joey, and Olivia;
her grandchild Laura Terchek, her husband Josh, and their children Luke and Asher; and
grandchildren Stryker Ross and Alix Ross.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org