Katharine (Kathie) Bigelow Hammond, age 83, passed away at her home in Roswell, GA, on March 29, 2013 surrounded by her family. Kathie was born September 23, 1929 in Trenton, NJ the daughter of Colonel Allen Caryl Bigelow and Charlotte Cook Bigelow. She was the youngest of five children. She attended Ms. Fine’s School and the Westminster Choir College. In 1948 she married Army Lieutenant Marhl Lee Welch. They had three daughters, Susan W. Henderson, Linda W. Layton, and Pamela W. Dabbs. Their early married life included military posts in Alaska and Europe and allowed for a great deal of travel. Following her divorce in 1962, Kathie moved to Columbus GA to be near her sister where she completed her education and launched a career in the mortgage banking industry. She headed mortgage companies in Columbus, GA, Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and she retired in 1992 as President of Sterling Savings Bank of West Palm Beach after a distinguished 30 year career. As a leading woman in the industry, Kathie's passion was to mentor other women. In retirement, she traveled extensively, volunteered, and enjoyed playing bridge and keeping up with her circle of friends. She was a member of the Roswell United Methodist Church. She is survived by her daughters, her son-in-law Dennis McFarland, her grandsons John A Layton, Kelly O Henderson, and Thomas L Dabbs, III, her sister, Elizabeth B Stickney of Tucson, AZ, and seven nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held April 20, 2013 at 10:00AM in the Chapel of Roswell United Methodist Church with inurnment to follow in the Garden of Love at RUMC.
Memorial contributions may be made to Homestead Hospice - HOPE Foundation
http://homesteadhospice.net/Donate.html or Northside Hospital Foundation – Cancer Institute https://give.northside.com
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