Katherine V. Meeker

Katherine V. Meeker, 87, of Western Avenue in Hamilton, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2012, at Fort Hamilton Hospital, after a brief illness.. She was born on July 16, 1924 in Ellenwood, Kansas, the oldest of seven children and was raised on a farm. After graduating from high school she moved to Kansas City. During WWII she met Charles Paul Meeker at a USO dance. They later married, moved to Hamilton, Ohio and raised one daughter, Linda. They were married for forty-three years, before his death in 1988. Katherine was employed at Kroger’s in Hamilton for thirty years, initially in the produce department and later as a cashier. While working at Kroger’s she met many wonderful coworkers, friends and customers, who remained friends long after retirement, As a widow, she had two devoted friends and partners, Raymond Ridenour, who pre-deceased her, and Melvin “Shorty” Grollmus. Katherine, a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, lived a loving life of compassion and caring for her family and friends, as well as her stray cats and other animals. Katherine enjoyed cooking, garage sales, and was never one to pass up a yummy dessert, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her great-grandson, Jonah. During her sixty-seven years residing in Hamilton, she established many long and caring relationships, and she loved her small home and the history of her neighborhood and community. She will be missed by many. She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings. She is survived by friend and partner, Melvin Grollmus; daughter, Linda Lauffenburger and her partner, Irv Brandel; granddaughter, Kate Lauffenburger; and her beloved great-grandson, Jonah Lauffenbuger, whose pre-school graduation she attended two weeks ago; and by siblings Charlene (Bill) Achatz, Audra Ann Newell, and Patrick (Jenny) Kasselman. A memorial service and celebration of Katherine’s life will be held a Princeton Pike Church of God, 6101 Princeton-Glendale Rd., Hamilton, Ohio 45011, on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM. As Katherine so enjoyed and loved her stray cats and other animals, donations can be made in her name to Animal Adoption Center, 248 Ross-Millville Rd., Hamilton, Ohio 45013.