Katharine Wilson

December 15, 1923 ~ December 13, 2010

Katharine Barton Wright Wilson died December 13, 2010 at her home in Foresthill, California. Just 2 days short of her 87th birthday, she still enjoyed football, being read to and listening to opera. Kathy will be remembered for her love of nature, good humor and amazing inquiring mind. She leaves behind many family and friends who will miss her.

Born December 15, 1923 to Chester Whitney Wright and Clara Mae Barton, she was raised in Chicago with summers in Putney, Vermont and Interlocken Music School in Michigan. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelors in Music and a Major in Voice. Throughout her life she performed in musicals, operettas, major choral pieces and trio’s playing piano. Her father paid Kathy 10 cents a page to type his major book manuscript after which she started work for Time-Life, after transferring to San Francisco. While there this shy person met another shy person, Dale Wilson, who was a western boy. East meets West!

They married and many adventures ensued all over the U.S.A. and Europe. Daughters Robin and Holly were born in Auburn, California and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. Kathy enjoyed the Sierra Club, hiking, rafting, gardening, color and reading history. She never was bored. Social justice was very important to Kathy and she gave generously to many causes. She had many friends on the Monterey Peninsula. After health issues arose she spent a good 20 years living at her home “Many Oaks” in Foresthill. Kathy was a vibrant woman who was compassionate, helpful to those in need and very tolerant.

She is survived by her sister Julia from East Lansing, MI; daughters Robin Guthrie (Brian) of Foresthill, CA and Holly Wilson of Alamogordo, NM; foster granddaughter Meagan Howe of Colebrook, NH; grandson Blue Guthrie (Michelle) and their children: Elijah, Isaiah, Christabella; grandson Wesley Guthrie (Kelly) and their children: Joseph and June; 5 great grandchildren in all. She will be missed by so many close family and friends. The family wishes to acknowledge her wonderful caretakers Jennifer, Sue and Claudia. A celebration of life service will be held later in the spring. Information is forthcoming. Donations in her memory can be made to your choice of favorite charity, as she had many. Please sign the guestbook at chapelofthehills-auburn.com

As fall leaves come slowly

To the ground

I watched our mothers spirit and thoughts often

Float skyward.

The balance is there.

I wished I could set her

Free….

We talked of where she would go, only a choice

She could make.

The many places of inspiring beauty she saw in her life.

Every season was her favorite

As nature was her Heaven.

May she find her little piece

And when she does there

Would be great classical music,

Good food and many books to read.

By: Robin Guthrie

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Hills, Auburn, CA.