Katherine Virginia Cruikshank Carroll, 92, died Friday, January 23, 2015, of natural causes.
Born November 18, 1922, in Brantsville, WV, she was the daughter of the late Lilburn Peyton and the late Ida Pearl Cruikshank and sister to the late Walter Cruikshank and the late Helen Seldombridge.
Katherine moved from Maxwelton, WV, to White Sulphur Springs, WV, during her childhood and graduated in 1941 from White Sulphur Springs High School. Until her death, she had been the last surviving member of the high school’s Class of 1941. She attended nursing school in Baltimore, MD.
In 1942, Katherine married Edward Lee Carroll, a Navy fighter pilot during World War II. His service in the military and subsequent career in the coal industry took them to Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. They had three children, Pat, Tim, and Shay.
Following her husband’s death in 1987, Katherine moved back to White Sulphur Springs in 1988 and spent the next 25 years dedicating herself tirelessly to the service of others through involvement in her church, Emmanuel United Methodist Church; the White Sulphur Springs Building Committee; the board of directors of the White Sulphur Springs Civic Center; the Woman’s Club of White Sulphur Springs; Old White Garden Club; St. Thomas Episcopal Church Prayer and Healing Group; food pantry; and the Busy Bees group.
In the fall of 2013, Katherine moved to Greenville, SC, to be closer to family. She enjoyed social activities as an active resident of Emeritus Senior Living and also spending time with family.
Katherine is survived by her daughters, Pat Burns (Les) of Taylors, SC, and Shay Kraft (Kurt) of Port St. Lucie, FL; son, Tim Carroll (Candi) of Macon, GA; grandchildren, Grant Burns (Julie) of Greer, SC, Amy Smith (Stephan) of Alexandria VA, Kris Kraft (Rebecca) of Tampa, FL, Keith Kraft of San Francisco, CA, Carmen Carroll of Salem, VA, and Tim Carroll Jr. of Salem; and great-grandsons, Camden and Emory Burns, Landen and Logan Goins, and Sebastian Smith.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 30, 2015, at Shanklin Funeral Home, 17 Mountain Avenue, White Sulphur Springs, from 7-9 PM.
A graveside service will be held at Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg, WV, on Saturday, January 31, at 11AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 25 Tressel Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986.
Shanklin Funeral Home is serving the family.
Obituary originally published in the January 29, 2015, edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
