Kathleen Wakeling

January 25, 1944 – May 29, 2025

Kathleen Petersen Wakeling, 81, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2025, in Upland, California. Born in Logan, Utah, on January 25, 1944, Kathleen lived a life devoted to caring for others—through her profession, her family, her faith, and her many talents.

A lifelong nurse with a passion for pediatrics, Kathleen graduated from the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in 1963 and was honored with the Nightingale Award for excellence in nursing. Her decades of service at Pomona Valley Hospital left a lasting impact on the lives of countless children and their families.

Since 1991, Kathleen made her home in Upland, California where she continued to serve her community and her family. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kathleen was a talented quilter and seamstress, creating beautiful pieces that will be cherished for generations. She was also deeply active in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she held numerous leadership positions in both the Relief Society and the Young Women’s organizations. Her faith was a guiding light in her life and a source of strength and comfort to others.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, David Wakeling, and their three children: Mark Wakeling and his wife Candice, Todd Wakeling, and Tiffany Wakeling. She was a devoted grandmother to Elijah, Maxwell, and Sylvia Wakeling. She is also survived by her sisters, Jolene Jolley and Sherrie Lyn Loyd, and by her best friend of over 50 years, Marilyn Lynn.

She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her boundless compassion, her quiet strength, and her lifelong commitment to serving others. Her legacy lives on in her family, her faith community, and all those she cared for throughout her life.

Kathleen will be laid to rest at Oak Park Cemetery in a private family ceremony. A memorial service will be held on June 14th at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1130 W. 21st Street, Upland, CA 91786. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in her memory to a children’s hospital or charity of your choice.