Katherine Jane England

Katherine Jane England, 85 years of age, passed from her earthly life to her Heavenly life on Tuesday, January 26th in her home in Colfax, NC. Katherine was born in Stokes County on April 28, 1924 to the late Thomas Wade and Lula Paris Tuttle. A graduate of Pine Hall High School, she attended Appalachian State Teachers’ College after which she taught school, first in Wilkes County, NC, then in Florida, and later in Burke County. She was wed on April 29, 1944 to the late Norman Watkins England, with whom she remained married for almost 63 years until his death in February, 2007. As a member of the First Baptist Church of Morganton, she was actively involved with her Sunday school class and visitation of homebound members until her health declined and she moved to River Landing retirement community in Colfax.In addition to her parents and husband, Katherine was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Peay of Madison, NC, brothers, Ralph and Tom Tuttle of Madison, NC, and Roger and Ronald Tuttle of Florida.Survivors include a son, Ron England of Martinsville, VA: daughters, Jane Beam and husband Dan of Honey Brook, PA and Shirley Wagner and husband, Ric of Pfafftown, NC; grandchildren, Kate Matikonis and husband, Rob, Paige Santmyer and husband, Dan, Jennifer Hood and husband Ritchie, Lesley Beam, Nathan Wagner and Matthew Wagner; and two great grandchildren, Maggie and Colin Santmyer. Also surviving are one sister, Marjorie Duncan of Ridgeway, VA and one brother, Bob Tuttle of Hendersonville, NC.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 29, 2010 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Katherine’s grandsons, Nathan and Matthew Wagner; her granddaughter’s husbands, Rob Matikonis, Dan Santmyer, and Richie Hood; and nephew, Tony Tuttle. The family will receive friends Friday one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, NC 27262, or to the First Baptist Church, PO Drawer 459, Morganton, NC 28680. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.