Katherine Burns Isbell

RALEIGH - Katherine Burns Isbell, 100, died, surrounded by family, Thursday, May 3, 2007, at Springmore Lifecare Retirement Community where she happily resided the past 18 years.

Friends of the family are invited to attend the service at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 7, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Wake Forest, followed by the interment at the cemetery.

She was a long-time resident of the Town of Wake Forest, first arriving in 1927 as the bride of Dr. Robert Nevill Isbell, Wake Forest College Chemistry Professor and Air Force Colonel. Friends remember Katherine for her many and varied hobbies. Among her favorites were the small cooking classes she taught, gardening and Japanese flower arranging. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church and the Garden Club in Wake Forest, a Daughter of the American Revolution and a lifetime member of The Herb Society of America.

Born Alice Katherine Burns on July 24, 1906, she spent her childhood in Freeport, Texas, and later attended Rice University. She worked for the WPA and was also a North Carolina Library Supervisor for 24 county libraries. At the age of 45, she graduated cum laude from Wake Forest, receiving a degree in Business Administration.

Throughout her lifetime, Katherine conquered 100s of Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles and was a formidable Scrabble opponent and expert Bridge player well into her 90s.

She was predeceased by her husband, Col. Isbell; and a daughter, Katherine Isbell Fredman of Pine Knoll Shores.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth (Bet) Isbell Bulla of Beaufort; and five grandchildren, Katherine Ford Hibbits and husband, Richard, and John Sterling Gates, III and wife, Leigh of Raleigh, Greyson Gates Kuhn and husband, Eric, and Robert Nevill Gates and wife, Amy of Greensboro and Nan Elizabeth Fredman of Rockville, Md.; and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Warren Kuhn, Charles Gates Kuhn, John Burns Hibbits, Erasmus Daniels Gates, John Sterling Gates IV, Katherine Isabelle Gates, Wade Ellis Gates and Frank Manly Gates, Percy Nevill Gates and Henry McCord Gates.

a reception will follow the burial at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Springmore for their constant and compassionate care, especially in Katherine's last months.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to the Herb Society of America.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Bright Funeral Home.

Offer condolences at www. news-record.com/nr/obits/