Scholarships and grants since 1938

Viola Vestal Coulter

From an early age, Viola Vestal Coulter was destined to respect the values of a good education. Her father, Samuel Vestal, was an early educator in Washington Territory, active in business, financial and political circles. Her siblings, like Viola, were of the select few to receive higher education. Born in 1889, Viola grew up in an era when few women attended college. Viola left the small community of Snohomish, Washington, and while earning her degree at the State College of Washington, met a man who would share his dreams with her life.

William Jesse Coulter was impressed with the culturally refined Viola, not only a beauty, but also bright and raised in a gentile family. He, on the other hand, was born in a rough and tumble Idaho mining camp, the son of an Irish construction worker and a New England-bred woman. When they met, William was working his way through college, running a flower shop, the College Lecture Bureau, and mining. He was pursuing a degree in mining engineering. Their wedding was one of the highlights of the summer of 1915 in Snohomish. On their honeymoon they traveled to his job at Hadley, Alaska, where he was employed as mining engineer with the Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company.

The couple moved to other mining camps in Alaska, British Columbia, New Mexico and Colorado. Besides love, their marriage was based on thrift and economy, and nurturing their son and daughters, Katherine Louise, William Jesse, Jr., and Patricia Anne.

In 1935 as the family was preparing to move to a more civilized life in Denver, Viola became terminally ill. All efforts to save her life failed, and Bill was widowed, his children left motherless. While his life seemed empty without the love of his life, a warm and loving relationship was established with Viola’s sister, Julia. They were married the following year. As business prospered, Bill met with his attorneys and drew up a detailed estate plan and, beginning in 1938, he established a scholarship in honor of his children’s mother. The original Foundation concept to honor Viola’s memory was formulated through a student essay contest at his alma mater, by now known as Washington State College.

The Foundation was established for the purpose of helping students achieve an education, which would otherwise be impossible financially. Mr. Coulter personally researched the design of scholarships, and designed those scholarships, which would be given to honor his beloved Viola. His second wife, Julia, supported his enthusiasm for the scholarships and participated in the activities of the Foundation until her death in 1955. A widower for the second time, Bill’s new bride, Mabel Monro Coulter totally committed her life to the Coulter family and the Foundation. After his death, Mabel carried on his life’s passion, the Foundation, named in honor of the young woman who brought sophistication, charm and culture to his rough and tumble background.

— Mary Lynne Gutshall Braun