1959
Kathryn
2018
Kathryn Marie French
July 9, 1959 — September 22, 2018
On July 9th 1959, Joe and Shay Ross welcomed their third child, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, and promptly named her Kathryn Marie. It was under a beautiful Hawaiian sun that she made her debut and joined her two brothers, Tim and Bob, for a 59-year long rollercoaster ride of life. And as they say, “it has its ups and downs, but it’s your choice to scream or enjoy the ride.” She did a little of both.
Shortly after her arrival, having no say in the matter, Kathy was whisked away with her family to El Centro, CA where her father would fulfill the final duties of his Naval career. Then in 1964 he retired and the family moved to a farm in Springville, Pennsylvania where Kathy’s lifelong love of animals was engendered as they raised horses, dogs, cats, and a sundry of wild things from time to time. If you were lucky enough to be one of Kathy’s pets you would be pampered, protected, loved and cared for better than most humans could ever hope to be.
For the following twelve years she attended Elk Lake School in Dimock, PA where her mother taught second grade. She excelled at nearly everything she attempted. She played the piano, the bells in the marching band, and she possessed a beautiful singing voice which she lent gladly to the High School Chorus, Drama Club, and various events. She graduated with honors in 1977 and then spent a bit of time finding herself before she enlisted in the Navy in 1979.
Kathy’s 22-year career as a US Navy “Nuke” began at the Recruit Training Center in Orlando, FL in April of 1979, followed by Basic Electronics & Electricity School, then Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, IL. Training assignments at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando and the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit at Ballston Spa, NY were followed by assignment to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS-40) in 1981. Three years later she was back at school, assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit at Windsor, CT, followed by a three-year assignment to the Naval Submarine Support Facility in New London, CT. Kathy returned to the Power Training Unit in Windsor in 1989, then attended Radiation Containment Maintenance School in Charleston, SC in 1993, followed by reassignment to the USS Frank Cable for three more years. Her final duty assignment was as an instructor for the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston. Kathy retired as an Electrician’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer (EMCS) in March of 2001. At her retirement, Kathy was one of the last women from her 1979 class to leave the Navy and the first woman to not only earn her American dolphins, but her British dolphins, as well.
It was while she was in the Navy that she met the dashing Michael French to whom she would soon be wed. The union produced a beautiful little girl named Jessica. Sadly, Michael left this world in 1991 after losing his battle with cancer… a battle that Kathy herself would one day lose.
She was no shrinking violet and would quite colorfully let you know just where you stood. For instance, if you ate only the chocolate and vanilla out of the Neapolitan ice cream, leaving only the strawberry, you would rather drown yourself in a pond than do it again. She was strong, determined and ferociously loyal to those who deserved it. And to those who didn’t? Well, that same pond might come in handy.
St. Peter stood at the Pearly Gates for the longest time with his sights set on Kathy. He sent all manner of angels to collect her over the years. But with a great deal of gnashing and snarling and pure stubbornness she was able to elude them. She was adamant that she remain long enough to ensure that her daughter was safe, secure, and headed in the right direction. That being accomplished, when the next angel arrived in the wee hours of September 22nd , she capitulated. She left quietly taking with her only what she needed… the love of her family and friends and the satisfaction of a life well lived.
Kathy is survived by her most cherished daughter, Jessica (husband Ben Almquist) of Goose Creek SC; her strong and brave brothers, Timothy Ross (wife Kathleen Ross) of Stewartstown, PA and Robert Ross of Gainesville, FL; remarkable nieces, Lauren (husband John Radkiewicz), Megan Ross, Adeline Ross; one-of-a-kind nephew, Ian Ross and finally her beloved hoofed and furry children – Music Box Dancer, Dayja, Tinkerbell, and Jet Li.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Doc Williams SPCA, 107 Saint James Ave., Goose Creek, SC 29445 or to H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue P.O. Box 2037, Goose Creek, SC 29445.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn Marie French, please visit our flower store.
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