Obituary of Anita Katharina Oser

Anita Katharina Oser, of Cullowhee, died unexpectedly Sunday, February 3, in Asheville. She is preceded in death by her mother, Anita Brügmann Oser and her father, Eugen Oser. Born in New York City in 1937, she attended school in Germany, Michigan and Florida, before receiving her MA and PhD degrees from Florida State University. She came to Cullowhee in 1973, joining the staff in Hunter Library at Western Carolina University as a reference librarian. During her decades of service, she became a distinguished map librarian, participating actively as a publishing scholar in national and international professional organizations. These included the Maps & Geography Roundtable of the Special Libraries Association (MAGERT) and (SLA), and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). While at WCU Anita taught geography and cartography and traveled extensively on five continents, tirelessly sharing her knowledge of how to develop and foster map libraries worldwide. Anita was devoted to her dog companions throughout her life. She was an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables, which she shared freely with her friends. In both her teaching and her work as a librarian she fostered deep respect for the knowledge and preservation of our planet earth. Anita is survived by family in northern and southern Germany. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Appalachian Funeral Services. A Graveside Memorial Service will be held 12:00 PM Noon, Wednesday June 12, 2019 at Stillwell Cemetery in Sylva Donations in honor of Anita may be given to your favorite charity.