Katherine Geraldine Caulk

Caregiver and Nurturer: Gerry Caulk, Jan. 25, 1931-March 11, 2023 

The world has lost a devoted caregiver known by family and friends for her selflessness and sunny
disposition.
 
Katherine Geraldine “Gerry” Caulk (nee Pinkos), a former nurse and mother of five, died unexpectedly at her home in Woodstock, Ga., March 11, 2023. She was 92. 

In some ways, she was a contradiction in terms: an introvert who loved people. She had the highest regard for everyone she met, and she experienced her greatest joy when she felt she was contributing to someone’s well-being. The oldest of two sisters, Gerry at a young age found herself in a caregiving role for her invalid mother; and Gerry cooked and cleaned for her father. Many years later, with her mother long deceased and her father battling a terminal illness, she again became his main support, living with him in his New Jersey home until the end. 

Born in Woodbury, N.J. on Jan. 25, 1931, she spent most of her early life in the northeast U.S. She met her husband of 67 years, Robert K. Caulk, at Pitman High School, where they served as class officers. She received a $100 scholarship to attend nursing school at Cooper Hospital in Camden, N.J., and she received her certification at age 21. She remembers her five years in nursing (specializing in obstetrics) as among her proudest moments. But as babies began arriving (her own), it became most obvious that she was needed at home full-time. Her five children are Steven Caulk of Colorado, Thomas Caulk of North Carolina, James Caulk of Kennesaw, Ga., Barbara Bell of Roswell, Ga., and David Caulk of Florida. 

Gerry was predeceased by her husband, Robert (Bob), whose illness in the last two years of his life accentuated the caregiving duties for Gerry. She never complained, just as she never complained about the constant relocations of the family home that Bob’s career required. Prior to settling in the Atlanta area, they lived in California, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois; and they returned multiple times to several of those states. 

One of her passions that survived all those moves was her devotion to her Christian faith. She read her Bible daily and with purpose, absorbing God’s word from cover to cover so she could apply its principles to others. 

As a young girl, Gerry enjoyed playing baseball and field hockey; and she played a school-owned cello for as long as they would let her keep it. Her parents, Bulesla (Ben) Pinkos and Katherine Pinkos (nee Doughterty) lived modestly off Ben’s variety of occupations that included janitorial, gardening and home repair. To help support the family, Gerry held jobs in an ice cream parlor, shoe store and grocery store. She lost her spot on the field hockey team when the coach entered the ice cream parlor and found Gerry eating the product. Girls on the team were forbidden from eating ice cream. 

In her advanced years, Gerry proudly took delight in her grandchildren (13) and then her great- grandchildren (9). She is survived by her children’s spouses: Rachel Zenzinger of Colorado, Bernadette Caulk of Kennesaw, Joel Bell of Roswell, and Elizabeth Caulk of Florida; and by her grandchildren: Jennifer Jackson, Katherine R. Caulk, Robert A. Caulk, Lianna Caulk, Stephanie Caulk, Alexander Caulk, Benjamin Caulk, Emily Brown, Jack Bell, Caitlin Waters, Tyler Caulk, Jon Caulk and David Lane Caulk; and by her great-grandchildren: Henry Jackson, Alexander Jackson, Madeline Caulk, Caleb Caulk, Amelia Caulk, Isaac Caulk, Nolan Caulk, Emerson Brown, and Krissy Waters. 

Gerry will be cremated and interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Roswell. Family members will have a private celebration of her life in an event to follow.