Kathleen Pauline Willingham

Kathleen Pauline McGowan Willingham passed away peacefully in her sleep at Arleigh Burke Pavilion in McLean, VA on June 11, 2025, just a few weeks before her 93rd birthday. Her family and friends will miss her feisty spirit, lively wit, and keen intelligence.

A native of the North of Ireland, Kathleen worked as a teacher and at several Fairfax County, VA libraries and accompanied her husband on numerous postings during his career with the US Navy. Kathleen was born July 19, 1932, in Ballykelly, County Derry, and graduated from Loreto Convent in Coleraine and from St. Mary’s Teaching College (now University) in Belfast with a teaching degree in 1953. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from George Mason University in 1983. During her career as an educator, she taught at Tartnakelly and Long Tower primary schools in the North of Ireland and at schools in London, UK; Bethesda, MD; and Sangley Point US Naval Base, the Philippines.

On a trip to visit family in the Washington area in 1960, she met David Geary Willingham, then a Navy lieutenant. They married the following year and lived in Maryland, the Philippines, Ohio, New Zealand, California, New Jersey, Virginia, and Tennessee before Dave’s retirement from the Navy. The family settled in Springfield, VA and Kathleen worked at Richard Byrd, Kings Park, and Lorton public libraries before her retirement. A proud Irish nationalist, she spoke Gaelic and was active in the Irish American Cultural Institute and the Gaelic League of Washington. She participated in annual readings of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” on Bloomsday (June 16) at American University and St. Patrick’s Day receptions at the Irish embassy. She is survived by her children Peg Willingham (Michael Bear) of Falls Church, VA; Eileen Willingham (Joe Miller) of Copenhagen, Denmark and Putney, VT; Rosemary Willingham (Stephanie Kish) of New Plymouth, New Zealand, and David Willingham (Lourdes Juncal) of Vigo, Spain; by her granddaughters Rebecca R. Namm, Moira K. Miller, and Fiona R. Miller; her sister, Maureen McGowan Valis; and 26 nieces and nephews in Ireland, the UK, Canada, and the U.S.

The family is not requesting donations or flowers, but if you wish to do so, they suggest contributing to the Vinson Hall Retirement Community Employee Caring Fund. https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E6388&id=1

A celebration of life will be held on August 19 at 1:00 pm at Vinson Hall, 6251 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA, with a reception immediately afterwards. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Arlington Cemetery at a later date.