Pat Townsend and her husband Francis “Pancho” Bolleter, Jr. call Geismar home. The couple is retired now, with Pat having worked in the nursing field most of her career.

Pat joined the U.S. Army after graduation and served as a WAC from 1961-1964, reaching the rank of Specialist-5.

She first became an LPN but decided to take her education further. She earned her Registered Nurse title with an associate's degree from Nicholls State University; she later received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from William Carey College. She held many posts during her career, including positions in the emergency room; the medical intensive care unit; the cardiac care unit; the recovery room; and as head nurse in the surgical intensive care unit.

Pat and Pancho have a daughter, a son, and five grandchildren. Mark, 40, is a commercial airline pilot; Tondra, 34, is a homemaker.

Pat says they have no big plans for their retirement years. She remembers having lunch at The Coffee Cove, and she remembers distributive education teacher Erin Ajubita, who, she said, expected professionalism from those she taught.