Obituary
Kathryn Ann Dodge Heath (Kathy) was born on March 23, 1935, daughter of John and Faith Dodge in Watertown, New York. She passed away peacefully on December 20, 2023, with family by her side. A memorial service and celebration of life is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 11am at Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, Ormond Beach, FL. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery next to her husband, Robert Charles Heath, who preceded her at age 90, on July 25, 2021.
Kathy was a shy little girl, and her parents placed her in ballet, toe, tap dance classes and piano lessons. She enjoyed playing with young cousins who lived nearby and with her kitten named Fluffy. Summer vacations with relatives at Campbell’s Point, Lake Ontario, were wonderful times. In her growing up years school was always special too. Her mother, who was a teacher, saw to it that she got her homework done on time, and because Kathryn was left-handed, her Mother always made her hold her pen, pencil, and paper correctly, so her penmanship always looked fine. She graduated in 1953 from Watertown High School as co-salutatorian of her class, then graduated with honors from New York State Teacher’s College at Albany with a Major in English and a Minor in Biology in 1957. After college she taught English in Glens Falls, NY for 3 years. In 1960, she moved to Ithaca, NY, to teach at Boynton Junior High School and to take graduate classes at Cornell.
Ithaca was very special to her! She enjoyed new friends, new Cornell courses, Ithaca’s scenery, and she met her husband!!! Bob had returned with his 5-year-old son to Ithaca from Germany after the Korean War to teach German and math at Boynton Junior High School and to get his doctorate at Cornell in 1972. They met at a Presbyterian Church picnic at Cayuga Lake. They were married in the Cornell Annabel Taylor Chapel on June 28, 1963.
She ended her teaching career when their children were born and became a stay-at-home mom to
their four children – Raymond, Andrew, David, and Ann. Busy, busy, busy! They were also blessed with 3 grandchildren, Tiffany, and (twins) Joshua and Alexander. Kathy was invited to join a national P.E.O. organization, became active in Chapter BD (NY) in 1972, and met many new friends. She was also active in Ithaca’s First Presbyterian Church as a Deacon and in the 20 UP Club. Baking desserts was her hobby.
Bob always knew that when he could take early retirement from New York, he wanted to return to his home state of Florida, which happened! In 1985, Bob and Kathy, along with daughter Ann, mother Faith Dodge, dog Triever, and Fluffy cat arrived at 913 Stanford Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL. Bob had accepted a teaching job in New Smyrna Beach. Ann was to be a middle school student in FL. The boys were in college. Kathy was soon invited to join Ormond Beach P.E.O. Chapter CU, and happily did. A few of the CU sisters invited the Heath family to visit Christ Presbyterian Church. What a blessing!!! As a result, Ann enjoyed ringing with the handbell group through high school, and Kathy enjoyed ringing with the JuBellation group for many, many years also. Kathy also served as President of Chapter CU and Deacon at CPC. She enjoyed a new hobby of card making after being introduced to it by Chapter CU President, Suzanne Moncrieff, wife of Rev. Scott Moncrieff, pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church!
The Heaths enjoyed several special trips during summer vacations to teacher conventions, Veteran Caucus conventions, and for many years an annual camping trip to Maine. The Heaths also enjoyed vacations to Hawaii, Dominican Republic, Alaska, Canada, and Costa Rica where Kathy and Bob went zip-lining in 2007.
Kathy was loved by so many! She was an amazing daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend! Her smile, rosy cheeks, kind heart, and generosity will be missed!