Katharine Anderson Spence

Katharine Anderson Spence died peacefully in the loving arms of her grandson Richard Carlson on April 2nd, 2005. Katharine was born in Waco, Texas on September 21st, 1919, to her parents, Katharine Raynolds and Reuben Bennett Anderson, Jr., MD. Katharine grew up in Fort Worth and attended TCU for one year. She transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. At the University, she met Robert William Spence of Tyler, Texas who would become her husband. She received Robert’s fraternity pin at the first serenade at the new Kappa House. They were married March 16th, 1941. World War II interrupted their lives in 1941. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet and flew missions in Europe as a bomber pilot. Twin daughters Katharine Anne and Mary Patricia were born in 1943. When Lt. Col. Spence returned from World War II, the family moved to Austin where Bob completed Law School at The University of Texas. Katharine and Bob were loving companions enjoying camping, hunting and fishing together while raising their twin daughters. After the girls were married, Katharine and Bob enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world together. Katharine and Bob were founding members of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Austin. Katharine was an active Kappa alumnus, served on the Alter Guild at Good Shepherd Church, was a former member of the Junior Helping Hand for Children and a member of The Junior League of Austin. She was a past president of the sustaining group of the Junior League of Austin. Katharine was preceded in death by her husband, Bob and her daughter, Mary Patricia. She is survived by her daughter Katharine Anne and her husband John; her grandson Robert and his wife Laura and her two great granddaughters, Amber and Emily all of Austin; her grandson Richard and his wife Madelaine of Berkeley, California and her grandson William Spence Coffey of Clayton, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Austin, Texas on Thursday, April 7th, at 10:00 am. The Reverend David Fikes will officiate. Interment will be in the Woldert-Spence family plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, April 8th, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd or to favorite charities. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com