Katharine Jones Calhoun

1929 - 2025

Katharine Jones Calhoun

December 7, 1929 - March 2, 2025

Katharine Jones Calhoun, 95, of Richmond, departed this earth and entered into her heavenly home on March 2, 2025. She was born on December 7, 1929, in Charlottesville, VA, to the late Philip Mallory and Sarah Hardin Jones. Katharine was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Henry, to whom she was married for over 65 years. Katharine is survived by her five sons: Thomas A. Calhoun (Pamela), Philip H. Calhoun (Valerie), David A. Calhoun (Julie), Andrew R. Calhoun, and Jonathan C. Calhoun (Cathy). She is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Katharine had an interesting, but difficult early life. She was born during the Great Depression and grew up going through World War II. On her twelfth birthday, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Since her father's career required extensive travel, she attended 13 different grade schools before the 5th grade. She also attended three different high schools and graduated from Fluvanna High School. She attended three colleges: Stratford College, Converse College, and finally the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she graduated in 1950 with a Journalism degree. At UNC, she was a member of the women's field hockey team and a sorority member of Alpha Gamma Delta social sorority. She began her working career at the Farmville Herald in Farmville, VA, after graduation.

She and Henry married in 1951 and spent the early part of her married life as a stay-at-home mom. She was a wonderful mother who devoted herself to raising her sons and participating in their various activities such as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts (behind the scenes she counts seven Eagle Scouts between her sons and grandsons), various sports, and academic endeavors. She was a strong proponent of her sons receiving a good education and all five attended college, four at Virginia Tech and one at UVA. In 1966 she was hired as the school librarian at Randolph Elementary School in Goochland County where she spent 28 years and was inducted into the Goochland Educators Hall of Fame. She was a 70-year member of Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, serving in many roles including elder, deacon, and Sunday School teacher. Her most rewarding role was preparing flower arrangements for the church sanctuary and then having them delivered to shut-in members. At Tuckahoe she was honored with The Women of the Church Honorary Life Membership Award. She was an avid home gardener and received her Master Gardener designation after retiring. She applied her Master Gardener skills and knowledge mostly at Richmond Hill retreat center.

The loves of her life were her husband, her sons, family and friends, and her faith, but somewhere in all of these was Appleberry, an apple orchard in Albemarle County that her father and mother purchased in 1931. She and Henry turned this place into a weekend and vacation destination for family and guests. She always said that in her early life, having lived through the Great Depression, frequent moves, numerous school changes, and the sacrifices of World War II, Appleberry was the one constant in her life where she could always find solace and comfort. She loved Appleberry, but most of all she loved sharing Appleberry with others, and this is why to many she was known as the "Queen of Appleberry".

The family would like extend a special thanks to all of the caregivers who took care of Katharine over the years and especially to the Hermitage Deep Run/Spring Arbor Retirement community where she spent the last seven years of her life. The Memory Care unit treated her like family and provided her with love and support during her final years. A memorial service will be held at Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, 7000 Park Avenue Richmond, VA, on Saturday, March 29 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church or Richmond Hill.