Katherine R. Gartman

On Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2016, Heaven’s gates opened and welcomed Kathrine R. Gartman of Vestavia Hills into eternal rest. Katherine was born in Helena, AL to the late Lee and Claudia Robinson. She was the youngest of six children and was predeceased by her sisters and brothers, Ethel Lockridge of Knoxville, TN, Ormond Robinson of Birmingham, AL, Agnes Weeks of Birmingham, AL, L.P. Robinson of Birmingham, AL and her sister and best friend, Pauline Larkin of Vestavia Hills, AL. Katherine attended Birmingham schools and graduated from Woodlawn High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Euclidean Honor Society, and was Secretary of the student body. She was awarded a scholarship to then Howard College, now Samford University, but because she had the willingness to give to her family, she declined the scholarship and began her working career to bring needed finances into the home she so loved; thereby helping her widowed mother. Katherine was a member of the First Baptist Church of Birmingham, the Joy Sunday School class, the Hilltoppers, and also a member of the Samford Auxillary. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her infectious laugh, and her compassionate love for her family and her friends. She will always be remembered as a gracious and elegant hostess. She was always so full of life-never meeting a stranger; and she had an optimistic outlook on life. The central theme in her life was love. She never spoke an unkind word or had an unkind thought about anyone. Her view of life was instilled in her by her mother who in December, 1932 lost her beloved husband. She taught her children well by being a Christian, setting the perfect example, and also by being a very wise mother. Katherine served God every day of her life, always bringing sunshine where there was rain. Her life leaves a legacy of hope to everyone that knew her. Her deep faith in God kept her anchored and you could hear this when you heard her pray. Never having children, Katherine’s eight nieces and nephews meant the world to her-they were her children. Those left to remember her and the love in her heart she had for them are John Lockridge of Knoxville, TN, Saundra Larkin of Vestavia Hills, AL, David Larkin of Lakeland, FL, Paula Freeman of Huntsville, AL, Jerri Dorrough of Hoover, AL, Charles Robinson of Birmingham, AL, Ann Vrocher of Birmingham, AL and Robert Robinson of Columbiana, AL. Her family would like to thank the steadfast rock in Katherine’s life for the last two years-her Care-Coordinator, D. “Clemmy” Webber. Her love for Katherine was unwavering and she filled her life with joy and laughter. Her medical knowledge was beyond all comprehension in her taking care of Kathrine and her needs. Clemmy Webber would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Pete A. Loedewick for graciously helping Clemmy get Katherine back to her beautiful condo 2 years ago. The family and Clemmy Webber would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Larry Dye and Dr. Walter Dunn for their love and understanding of Katherine’s needs. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at Elmwood chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be conducted by Dr. Charles Freeman from Hillwood Baptist, Huntsville, AL and Dr. Jim Cooley, Senior Pastor from the First Baptist Church of Birmingham, AL. A reception will follow First Baptist Church on Lakeshore Dr. In life Katherine always looked for the rainbow. Now in the presence of the God she so loved and her beloved family-she has finally found her rainbow.