A further tribute to the life of Loveland’s Kathryn Undercoffer

Loveland Councilwoman Pam Gross forwarded this piece of writing to Loveland Magazine and asked if it would be published. She said, “Kathryn Undercoffer was a remarkable woman and I am proud to have gotten to know her because I would not have had the many opportunities in my life without the efforts of women like Kathryn. As a woman, I and so many others owe her a debt of gratitude for her commitment and service to our community and our country. She will be dearly missed.”

Kathryn Undercoffer passed away this May 13, at the age of 100.

The children of Kathryn often laughingly considered themselves products of a “mixed marriage”. Kathryn a born and bred resident of Price Hill (West Side) became a transplant to Loveland (East Side) when she married a young attorney, and widower, John L. Undercoffer in 1941, thereby also acquiring a son, John Thomas “Tom” Undercoffer.

Shortly thereafter WWII intervened. The war years, 1942-45, found John as the only Red Cross Field Director assigned to Patton’s Invasion of North Africa. John would also serve the American Red Cross during WWII as Supervisor of Communications in Algeria, Field Director in Hawaii, and Island Supervisor of Guam.

Until his return at the end of the war, Kathryn stayed at her mother’s home on Price Hill and worked as statistician for the Air Transport Command (the strategic airlift component of the United States Army Air Forces, best known for ferrying supplies over the “Hump” in the China, Burma, and India campaign and the Berlin Airlift), headquartered in Cincinnati. Tom continued living on the family farm in Loveland with his paternal Grandmother.

In the years following the war, John resumed his law practice in Cincinnati and Loveland and became a partner in the law firm of Kruse, Outcalt, and Undercoffer. John and Kathryn built a home on a tract of land adjoining the Undercoffer farm on Lebanon Road, Loveland, and saw their family grow with the births of two sons, Graham and Bruce and a daughter, Martha Jane.

With John’s sudden death in 1969, the boys in high school and Martha in the 3rd grade, Kathryn had her Teacher’s License renewed. She became a permanent sub and was commissioned by then Superintendent Lincoln W. Hurst to establish the first Head Start program in Loveland. She then became a First Grade Teacher, which she thoroughly enjoyed until retirement.

Kathryn was active in the social and community life of Loveland, – President of the Loveland Woman’s Club when the Jr. Loveland Woman’s Club was chartered and the Loveland Dental Clinic was established, which treated the needed children of Loveland for a number of years. She was Worthy Matron of Loveland Chapter #289, O.E.S, Historian for the Loveland United Methodist Church, and President of the Greater Loveland Historical Museum Society and later Treasurer during the extensive renovation of the Museum and building of the Rosemary Nisbet Library.

Kathryn’s activities in Loveland continued, and it was her great joy to be chosen 2003 Loveland Valentine Lady, joining a fantastic group of women noted for their contributions to the community.

In 2013 the City of Loveland recognized her contributions to the community by presenting her with the Louis G Rockwood Community Volunteer Service Award.

Kathryn’s community work was not limited to the City of Loveland, she was named a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar; the first woman to serve on the Parents’ Council of Virginia Military Institute, where her sons matriculated, and was recognized for conducting a campaign to have the mothers replace an historic and Battle of New Market flag. The only time such an activity was or has been since undertaken. And, she served for forty years as editor of The Oversear a quarterly publication of the American Red Cross Overseas Association – a national organization of American Red Cross volunteers who served overseas.

The Photo Album: “Katherine @ 100” – the Birthday party for Kathryn Louise Graham Undercoffer