Pumroy Family Memorial Scholarship

The Pumroy Family Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Bernard Neal and Vera Lydia (Dahl) Pumroy, both lifetime supporters of the Kouts School system. Neal was born in Kouts on July 23, 1912, and passed away on November 21, 1985. Vera was born in Hamlet, Indiana, on August 1, 1917, and passed away on May 30, 2007. During the Depression, Neal left home to work on the railroad and later became a hired hand on Joe Dahl's farm where he met and married Vera Dahl. They moved to Highland, Indiana, where he worked in the Gary steel mills. After a few years, they moved back to Kouts to take up farming and raise their two children, Charles Russell Pumroy and Fredrick Louis Pumroy. Neal and Vera were both very active in the Kouts Christian Church, as well as being strong supporters of the Kouts High School athletic, music, and Future Farmers of America programs. They are remembered for their generosity in taking in troubled teenagers as helping hands and introducing them to a Christian lifestyle. Their Christian values provided a firm foundation for their two sons, Russell and Fred. Russell graduated from Kouts High School in 1954 and then served in the U.S. Army, after which he had three children: Scott, Lisa, and Dina. Fred graduated from Kouts High School in 1960 and served in the U.S. Air Force for over twenty years. He married Mary Anne Saffen of Fort Wayne, and they had three children: Leanna, Julia, and Richard.

This scholarship has been made possible by generous contributions from Russell and Fred Pumroy, as well as other family members and friends. The first priority for this scholarship should be given to members of Kouts High School athletics, music, and agricultural programs and those who have been active in community services. Second priority should be given to sons and daughters of past or present members of the United States military services.