Eunice Eileen (Beauchamp) Koch

the city and frequent visits to the family farm outside of Montreal. She graduated magna

cum laude from Cooley High School and enjoyed working at the iconic J.L. Hudson’s

department store in downtown Detroit prior to entering college. Interested in education,

she earned a B.A. from Michigan State Normal College, and later completed a master’s

degree from The University of Michigan. After an adventurous summer job waitressing

at a mountain lodge in Colorado, Eunice and her lifelong friend, Vicki, continued west by

train for their first teaching jobs in Long Beach, CA. Both returned to Michigan the

following year where Eunice taught Science at Detroit’s McFarlane and Burns Schools.

During World War II, Eunice boosted the morale of a particular soldier from her church

via letters and homemade cookies. Six years after the war’s end, she became his bride.

Together Eunice and Russell raised two daughters in a happy home filled with joy,

creativity and a lot of music. No longer teaching outside the home, Eunice served 6

years as a volunteer leader for two groups of Camp Fire Girls, an experience she

recently defined as one of the most meaningful and joyful times of her life. She provided

young girls from Detroit’s Burt School with fond memories of crafts, nature, music,

camping and much more. Science was a lifelong interest for Eunice, igniting a passion

for identifying wildflowers and birds, supporting conservation for animals and nature,

and always on the lookout for interesting pinecones. Cats in particular seemed to know

she was their friend and gravitated to her.

Eunice had a deep love for family, expressed kindness, generosity, devotion, and love to

all. People seemed to know she was one they could turn to for a listening ear, practical

assistance, or just some motherly love. Her presence will be greatly missed by all who

were blessed to be a part of her life. She is survived by her daughters, Heather and

Lynn, sister-in-law Barbara, and six nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations in

support of animal welfare can be made to Best Friends Animal Society,

www.bestfriends.org or the charity of your choice. No services or visitation are planned.

She will be inurned with her beloved husband of 68 years at the Great Lakes National

Cemetery.