Kathleen Kern Buchanan

Kathleen Kern Buchanan

Kathleen Kern Buchanan of Keswick, Virginia, formerly of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, died peacefully at The Gordon House, Gordonsville, Virginia on Monday, April 5, 2010. She was 96 years old.

Kathy was born in Elmhurst, New York, on May 19, 1913, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Kern. She attended the Savage School in New York, where she studied ballet and taught dance.

Kathleen and her husband of 50 plus years, William Cooper Buchanan, lived and raised their three daughters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Kathy was an avid gardener. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Herb Society of America, and a member of numerous garden clubs in Pennsylvania and Virginia,

Kathy's passions were her family and her gardens in Keswick, Virginia and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Kathy is survived by her daughters, Deborah Ann Buchanan, Kathleen Buchanan Motley and husband Hugh Camp Motley, all of Keswick; her son-in-law, William Davis Fishback, Jr. of Versailles, Kentucky; three granddaughters, Leslie Fishback Cutchins, and husband Cecil Vaughan Cutchins, Jr. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sheila Camp Motley of Palm Beach, Florida and Sarah Davis Fishback of Versailles, Kentucky; and two great-grandchildren, Cooper Anne Cutchins and Cecil Vaughan Cutchins, III of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is also survived by her sisters, Tecla Marie Kern and Phyllis Kern Curtis of Elmhurst, New York and her brother, Joseph F. Kern, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Cooper Buchanan; her brother, Louis J. Kern; and her daughter, Betsy Buchanan Fishback.

The family would like to sincerely express their thanks to Sally Carter; Kathy's friend, caregiver and assistant gardener for many years.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2010, at Old St. David's Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Interment to follow at St. David's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Herb Society of America.

Funeral arrangements handled through Hill and Wood in Charlottesville, Virginia.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.