Kathie Meek

Kathie Meek VIRGINIA BEACH - Kathie Van Den Brink Meek, 54, passed away suddenly at her home in Virginia Beach, Oct. 19, 2010. Kathie was born Jan. 15, 1956 in Allegan, Mich., to Alvin and Betty Van Den Brink of Fennville, Mich. Her parents survive her. Kathie graduated from Fennville High School in 1974 and from Central Michigan University in 1979 with a B.S. in elementary education. She also earned a master's degree in public administration (MPA) from the University of Oklahoma in 1993. Kathie married Thomas Paul Meek of Clare, Mich., Aug. 29, 1981. They have two children, Tong Paul Meek, 19, and Moira Hui Meek, 15, both of whom were adopted in China during the mid-1990s. Other surviving family members include brothers, Warren Van Den Brink and Jerry Van Den Brink; and sisters, Millie Van Den Brink, Lois (Mark) Corsaut and Jan (Allen) Sal. She is also survived by her father and mother-in-law, Forrest and Jean Meek of Clare, Mich., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Kathie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Clare. Kathie and Tom were a Navy couple. Tom joined the Navy shortly after their marriage in 1981 and he remains on active duty. Kathie and Tom lived in countries around the world, including Japan, Italy, Germany and Bahrain, and numerous other duty stations throughout the United States along both coasts as well as Hawaii. The greater Washington, D.C., area was like a second home to Kathie, having spent many years there during Tom's various assignments. Kathie's own professional career included elementary and middle school teaching positions in Michigan, management of military child care facilities and activities, both overseas and stateside, facilities management at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C., community liaison officer duties at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany, and volunteer duty at the VA Hospital in Miami. Kathie also volunteered significant time in parenting activities like Brownie Scouts, organizing and fundraising for Moira's soccer teams, and Team Mother during Tong's wrestling years. Tom felt the most important position Kathie ever held was stay-at-home Mom, which she enjoyed immensely for most of the past decade. Kathie was a generous giver to causes supporting mistreated and abandoned animals as well as environmental protection. The Norfolk Chapter of the SPCA and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation were two organizations of importance to her and they would be appropriate recipients for memorial donations in Kathie's honor. A beloved mother and wife, Kathie leaves behind a bereaved family and countless friends from a life of devotion and service to others. She is profoundly missed. The memorial service for Kathie will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek/Fort Story Base Chapel. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.