Catherine Connaughton Irby "Kitty" Snodgrass

1929 - 2025

Catherine "Kitty" Connaughton Irby Snodgrass

April 8, 1929 - September 6, 2025

Catherine "Kitty" Connaughton Irby Snodgrass, age 96, passed away peacefully at her home in Virginia Beach, on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Kitty was born in Winston Salem, N.C., on April 8, 1929, and grew up in King and Queen County, Va. She was the daughter of Lillie Louise Whealton and William Connaughton. At age 17, Kitty moved to Richmond to study fashion design and began her modeling career at Miller and Rhoads Tea Room. Kitty married the love of her life, Dr. William Robert "Bob" Irby, an Internist at MCV on September 29, 1950. They were married for 50 years, raised three children and lived happily with neighbors and friends on Roselawn Road in Richmond. They were lifelong members of St. Stephen's Church. Their time was spent traveling worldwide, playing tennis, entertaining, dancing and going to horse races.

Kitty was a member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Retreat Hospital where she volunteered as a candy striper. Kitty was a member of the Country Club of Virginia where she was a passionate tennis player. Additionally, Kitty was a member of The Tuckahoe Women's Club, The Downtown Woman's Club and the Garden Club of Virginia. She gladly opened her home on Roselawn Road for several Garden Week tours. Later, Kitty worked in retail management at Montaldo's. Bob and Kitty were philanthropic in raising funds for the Arthritis and MCV Foundations by organizing events such as auctions and fashion shows.

Dr. Irby passed away in 2001. In 2005, Kitty married Cornelius Stribling "Strib" Snodgrass, Jr. and moved to Virginia Beach. Kitty and Strib spent happy years together until his passing in 2007. In Virginia Beach, she was a Member of the Princess Anne Country Club where she enjoyed playing Bridge, Bunco and Mahjong. Some of her favorite events were the Virginia Beach General Hospital Women's Auxiliary fashion show and The Kentucky Derby annual event.

Kitty was predeceased by her first husband, Bob Irby, and her second husband, Strib Snodgrass. Kitty is survived by her children, Cassie Wellford (Landon), Bonnie Williams (Evan), and Rob Irby, Jr. (Cindy). She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, John Robert Conley (Jessica), Peter Wellford (Erin), Catherine Wellford (Sean), Brooke Williams, Bridgette Gottwald (Ted), Missy Williams, Mary Ruckman (Dan), Anne Irby, and Sarah Irby. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren.

Kitty will be remembered for her love of family, entertaining, and her bright blue eyes. Kitty never met a dance floor she did not adore. She was a member of multiple dance clubs and was no stranger to the jitterbug.

A visitation was held at H. D. Oliver Funeral Home, Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Kitty Irby to the MCV Foundation in support of the W. Robert Irby Professorship at the VCU School of Medicine www.mcvfoundation.org/giveirby or St Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond https://ststephensrva.org/give/.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.