Catherine Marie Walrod

Ms. Catherine Walrod, age 99, of Phoenix Arizona, passed away peacefully with friends on October 22nd, 2021. In life she connected active overseas military men with their families during WWII; becoming a Long Distance Supervisor in her 41 years with Mountain States Telephone Company (Mountain Bell Telephone Company - AT&T), she said it was important the words of those men be delivered.

Catherine was born May 18th, 1922 in Winter Park Florida, at the end of the Great Depression; she and her mother moved to Phoenix in 1927, she graduated from the Phoenix Union High School (photo) and then began her telecommunications career. She loved her son Jimmy, who succumbed body to Valley Fever and was held with her always. She lived in joy with her mother, and chose to be on her own terms. She loved her many friends, family, people recognized from the Telephone Pioneers of America, Phoenix Thunderbird Club Arizona Chapter 228, Phoenix Firebirds Barbie Doll, and Copper State Mustang clubs, her community of faith in Monte Vista Baptist Church, her neighbors. She loved animals, a favorite was Feathers the cat. She grew plants, flowers and food. She was smart of intellect and sharp with wit, moreover she was strong in many ways, self-motivating. – “get up girl and keep going”

She is preceded in death by her father, Christian Holdorf, and her mother Grace Bowman, her half-sister Julie Talton, and her beloved son James Christian Walrod. Catherine is survived by two half-brothers, Ted and Ben Holdorf.

A visitation will be held at A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary 710 W. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ, in the Agave Venue on Saturday, November 13, 2021 beginning at 9:00 am and the Celebration of Life will begin at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery 2300 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ALMoore-Grimshaw.com for the Walrod family.