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Kathleen Lois VanValin passed peacefully on May 28, 2023, at The Gatehouse of Williamsport. Born April 21, 1930, in Tulsa, Okla., Kathleen was the fourth, and youngest child of Joseph Leslie Willing Sr., and Eunice Belle (Newberry) Willing.
Kathleen was a graduate of Will Rogers High School, received a 2-year associate degree from Central College in McPherson, Kan., and graduated with her an B.A. in education from Greenville College, Ill.
It was at Greenville that she met and married Mendal Forrest VanValin. They were married on June 12, 1952, and were blessed with 45 years together, before Mendal's passing in 1997. After his completion of a DDS degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, a stint in the Army at Fort Lewis, Wash., and the births of their two children, they returned to his hometown of Williamsport to open a dental practice.
An athletic woman, Kathleen had played softball in junior college, and radio broadcasts of pro baseball games were the soundtrack of her young, married life.
Kathleen, "Katie," or "Aunt Kay," was a beloved sister, wife, mom, grandma, aunt, and cousin. She shared many creative gifts and musical talents which benefited everyone around her. She enjoyed music throughout her life, and engaged in playing piano and singing from an early age. Kathleen was a long-time member of Williamsport Music Club, and enjoyed singing in various trios for programs over the years.
She was a seamstress, making much of her wardrobe, cheerleading outfits, Halloween costumes, prom gowns, and choir robes for youth choir. She was an excellent homemaker, always providing a neat, welcoming home and inviting meals. She enjoyed exercise, walking, and gardening, and she loved her dogs, Kim, Honeycomb, Sammy, and Honeycomb (the 2nd)!
A lifelong Free Methodist, she joined Williamsport's First Free Methodist Church, and in the late 60's, she and Mendal were instrumental in the planning, financing, and construction of the congregation's new home, Light & Life Chapel, in Loyalsock Township. She was church organist at Light and Life Chapel, and played for many weddings and church cantatas. More recently, she enthusiastically sang with the Praise Team up through the age of 85! She enjoyed the outdoors, and traveling the world with Mendal. Throughout their marriage, Kathleen and Mendal embraced the habit of hospitality, opening their home to Bible studies, college students, traveling choirs and music groups.
Ministers, bishops, and missionaries who visited the church often stayed with the VanValins, as well as countless friends and relatives over the years.
Most folks remember Kathleen for her exuberant smile and sweet Christ-like spirit, as well as her servant leadership at her church. She invested her time well, serving wherever her hands found work to be done, from cleaning, working outside weeding, and caring for the grounds, teaching, church planning, welcoming/greeting, altar/communion preparation, VBS, Women's ministries, banquets, serving as Keystone Conference loan fund treasurer, and the list goes on. She lent her resources toward whatever was needed, and she invested in many pastoral families, helping to meet salaries, and send children to Camp Susque.
She was also an administrator in her husband's dental practice, and in the 1980's, accompanied him on several dental missionary trips to Haiti. Car trips and cruises rounded out their love of travel.
In recent years, when she couldn't get out as much, she greatly enjoyed jigsaw and word puzzles, and her favorite TV game shows. She was always encouraged by visits from friends who would stop in.
Kathleen left an indelible mark on so many, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She instilled in her children a love and appreciation for music and performance. To her son, she gave her artistic talents, along with her contented and gracious demeanor. To her daughter, she gave her love of homemaking and gardening, along with her love for the church, and joy of living. To both her children, she gave her smile and her faith in a loving God. To all who knew her she gave love, acceptance, and generous encouragement. These are gifts that will be a lasting legacy to her.
She is survived by her son, Mark; and daughter, Kristin (Karl) Ivers; grandchildren, Kevin (Dawn) Ivers and Karilyn (Travis) Tracy; one great-grandson, Tucker Philip Tracy; two sisters-in-law, Susanne Heisey and Margaret "Peggy" Willing; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband, Mendal; sisters, Mary Pickard, and Eunice Pickard, of Tulsa; and brother, Joseph L. Willing Jr., of Anchorage, Alaska.
A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at Pine Street United Methodist Church, 441 Pine Street, Williamsport. Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to McCarty~Thomas Funeral Home, (formerly Spitler funeral home).
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Camp Susque, https://susque.networkforgood.com/projects/53701-support-camp-susque, and Northway Community Church (formerly Light & Life Chapel), 1680 Four Mile Drive, Williamsport.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at mccartythomas.com.