Frances Kathleen Goode Burch

1922 - 2016

Kathleen Burch Frances Kathleen (Kay) Goode Burch went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 after a lengthy illness. She was born November 27, 1922 in the Owlet Green Community near Van TX to the late John J. and Burma Martin Goode. Kathleen was the youngest of ten children. She graduated from Van High School and Tyler Commercial College. While employed as a long distance telephone operator in Tyler, Kathleen met her future husband, Lt. Harold T. Burch, who was stationed there at Camp Fannin during WW II. After the war, Kathleen, transferred to San Francisco with the telephone company. She and Hal were married and eventually settled in Fairfax, CA. Kathleen continued her career with Pacific Telephone and Telegraph where after a series of promotions, she rose to the position of field engineer, becoming the first woman with Pacific Telephone to reach such a leadership position. Kathleen had been a member of First Baptist Church in Tyler and later the First Baptist Church of San Anselmo, CA. She was a world traveler visiting several countries on multiple continents with Hal, and after his death, Kathleen continued her travels with friends and family. During the years that she cared for her ailing husband, Kathleen learned to needlepoint and crafted many gifts for friends and family. Many of her nieces and nephews are the proud recipients of her beautiful needlepoint Christmas stockings. Kathleen loved her adopted home state and all that it had to offer. She regularly attended the distinguished lectures at the renowned Frank Lloyd Wright designed Marin County Veteran's Auditorium and Civic Center. Kathleen was an active member of the Marin Needle Arts Guild. She was also a devoted volunteer with The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA. Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, also by her brothers, Alvin Goode, John Brady Goode, and Travis Goode, by her sisters Vonnie Lattimore, Alphia Rowan, Bertha Stone, Dola Johnson, J. Geneva Clark, and Blanche Nolen, and by special friends Vickie Hughes and Frank Lewis. Kathleen is survived by many nieces and nephews. Kathleen will be laid to rest at Marvin Chapel Cemetery, Texas. A memorial and celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965-2619.