JOSEPHINE ZECH

ZECH JOSEPHINE MARY KERR ZECH Josephine Mary Kerr Zech, widow of retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Lando W. Zech, Jr., died on September 22, 2017. Josephine was born on January 23, 1924 in Fall River, Massachusetts to Maria and Walter Kerr of Bristol, Rhode Island. She was educated in the Bristol schools and graduated from the Rhode Island College of Education in 1945 where she was elected to the Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society in Education. Josephine taught in the Bristol public schools until her marriage to then-Lieutenant (junior grade) Lando W. Zech, Jr. of Seattle, Washington on February 14, 1949. During the ensuing years, she accompanied her husband to many duty stations through out the United States and overseas, including submarine bases in Portsmouth, NH and Groton, CT and tours in Norfolk, VA, Seattle, WA, and Yokosuka, Japan. After Vice Admiral Zech's retirement, they settled in Falls Church, VA. Josephine was a parishioner of the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington, VA, a member of the Naval Officers Spouses Club of Washington, D.C., the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy, and a founding member of the Navy Arlington Ladies of Arlington National Cemetery. She is survived by five daughters: Janet Mary (James) Cocke of Richmond, VA; Joanne Norma (Coleman) Lyons of Atlanta, GA; Nancy Jean (Robert) Cunnane of Coto de Caza, CA; Carol Mae Zech of Arlington, VA; and Patricia Lee (Kirk) Nelson of Sammamish, WA. In addition, she is survived by 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and her brother, Dr. Norman (Melinda) Kerr of Pensacola, FL. Relatives and friends may call at Murphy Funeral Home at 4510 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203 on Monday, January 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Her life will be celebrated with a Mass of Christian burial on Tuesday, January 9 at 2:45 p.m. in the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made in memory of Josephine to the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA 22203 or to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, PO Box 4469, Washington, D.C. 20017.Memorial gifts may be made in memory of Josephine to the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA 22203 or to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, PO Box 4469, Washington, D.C. 20017.