Katherine “Katy” (Kessel) Burdette
Jackson Newspapers
Logan Banner
Katherine Kessel Burdette, 89, of Ripley, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at Jackson General Hospital.
Born April 18, 1921, in Charleston, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Ray and Kate Miller Kessel. Also preceding her in death was her husband, Willis L. Burdette, and brother, Dr. Ray M. Kessel.
Katherine was a 1938 graduate of Charleston High School and then went on to attend Duke University and West Virginia University.
She relocated to Logan where she and her husband resided for 39 years and raised their family after she had the distinction of being the first woman to work the news desk at the Charleston Daily Mail.
She was a member of Chi Omega, Kappa Tau Alpha, and the National Scholastic Journalism Honorary. She also served as president of the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council and was an avid Bridge player and world traveler. She was also a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Ann (David) Justice of Huntington, Sarah (David) White of Burke, Va., Nancy Dalesio of Ripley, and Mary Lousie (Rory) Kelly of Fairfax, Va.; grandchildren, Kate Justice, Melinda (Jason) Taylor, Christopher White, Molly White, Meredith (Nick) Colberg, Cole Dalesio, and Daniel (Amanda) Kelly; four great-grandchildren; sister, Geraldine Kessel of Morgantown; sister-in-law, Barbara Edgar Kessel of Raliegh, N.C.; niece, Kim Kessel of Huntington; nephews, Dr. James W. (Donna) Kessel of Morgantown, Mark Kessel of Evanston, Ill., Dr. John (Shelia) Kessel of Hickory, N.C., and double first cousins, Jenny K Cross of Atlanta, Ga., and Polly (Dr. James T.) Hughes of Ripley.
Service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Epworth United Methodist Church with Rev. Terry Deane officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Hill Cemetery at Ripley.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Waybright Funeral Home at Ripley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Epworth United Methodist Church, 299 North Church St., Ripley WV 25271, or the P.I. Reed School of Journalism at WVU, PO Box 6010, Morgantown, WV 26506-6010
Waybright Funeral Home of Ripley is in charge of the arrangements.
Jackson Newspapers
Logan Banner
Katherine Kessel Burdette, 89, of Ripley, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at Jackson General Hospital.
Born April 18, 1921, in Charleston, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Ray and Kate Miller Kessel. Also preceding her in death was her husband, Willis L. Burdette, and brother, Dr. Ray M. Kessel.
Katherine was a 1938 graduate of Charleston High School and then went on to attend Duke University and West Virginia University.
She relocated to Logan where she and her husband resided for 39 years and raised their family after she had the distinction of being the first woman to work the news desk at the Charleston Daily Mail.
She was a member of Chi Omega, Kappa Tau Alpha, and the National Scholastic Journalism Honorary. She also served as president of the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council and was an avid Bridge player and world traveler. She was also a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Ann (David) Justice of Huntington, Sarah (David) White of Burke, Va., Nancy Dalesio of Ripley, and Mary Lousie (Rory) Kelly of Fairfax, Va.; grandchildren, Kate Justice, Melinda (Jason) Taylor, Christopher White, Molly White, Meredith (Nick) Colberg, Cole Dalesio, and Daniel (Amanda) Kelly; four great-grandchildren; sister, Geraldine Kessel of Morgantown; sister-in-law, Barbara Edgar Kessel of Raliegh, N.C.; niece, Kim Kessel of Huntington; nephews, Dr. James W. (Donna) Kessel of Morgantown, Mark Kessel of Evanston, Ill., Dr. John (Shelia) Kessel of Hickory, N.C., and double first cousins, Jenny K Cross of Atlanta, Ga., and Polly (Dr. James T.) Hughes of Ripley.
Service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Epworth United Methodist Church with Rev. Terry Deane officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Hill Cemetery at Ripley.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Waybright Funeral Home at Ripley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Epworth United Methodist Church, 299 North Church St., Ripley WV 25271, or the P.I. Reed School of Journalism at WVU, PO Box 6010, Morgantown, WV 26506-6010
Waybright Funeral Home of Ripley is in charge of the arrangements.
