Cathy Jane Learnard

1956 - 2022

LEARNARD, Cathy Jane, of Richmond, Va., passed away at 6 p.m. on October 2, 2022, at age 66. Cathy was born July 20, 1956, in Petersburg, Va., to Joyce (nee Orcutt) and Ralph Learnard. Cathy grew up in Colonial Heights, Va., and graduated from The College of William and Mary in Virginia in elementary education and, also, earned a W&M MBA. Cathy taught first-grade for several years, then entered the world of banking as Vice President, working with Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations in several Virginia Banks that were acquired by out-of-state banks. Tiring of musical banks, Cathy joined the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Student Assessment. Cathy suffered progressive complications from Multiple Sclerosis during the last decade of the 24 years she worked for the Department of Education; ultimately, her body gave up. Cathy is survived by her daughter, Dawn; mother, Joyce Orcutt Learnard of Colonial Heights; husband of 28 years, David Karns; stepson, Paul Karns of Somerville, Mass.; stepgranddaughter, Anna Karns of Bar Harbor, Maine; several Orcutt and Turner cousins and friends and acquaintances whose lives she brightened. Cathy was predeceased by her father, Ralph Learnard. Cathy can be memorialized with donations to the Dennos Museum Center, or the Theater Company at Fort Lee.