Kathryn Ward Vandervoet

Kathryn Ward Vandervoet, 96, died Jan. 10, 2015. She was born in Strathmore, Calif., June 25, 1918, to Irene Cogswell Ward and Charles Hiram Ward.

She was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Nadine Johnson and Virginia Shropshire, brother Bruce Ward; her husband, Frederick H. Vandervoet; and an infant son.

She is survived by three children, David (Karen) Vandervoet of Los Alamitos, Calif., Brian (Kathleen) Vandervoet of Tubac, Ariz., Julie (Richard) Kiker of Woodinville, Wash.; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathryn graduated from Strathmore High School in 1936 and attended Pomona College. She was married to Frederick Sept. 20, 1943.
Kathryn lived in her Whittier home from 1955 to 2011, when she moved to an assisted living facility in La Habra, Calif.

Her maternal grandfather was Prescott F. Cogswell, California state legislator, and a Los Angeles County Supervisor from 1918 to 1926.

After Fred's death at the age of 45, she worked in office positions. Her final employment was for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from which she retired in 1983. She was a volunteer for the Whittier Public Library for many years. Her special interests included reading the Los Angeles Times daily in depth, cooking and gardening.

She was a daughter of the State of California. She loved swimming in the refreshing lakes of Alpine County, the delicious citrus of Tulare County, the Rose Parade, the southwest deserts, and the arts and theater of Los Angeles.

At her request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Whittier Public Library, 7344 S. Washington Ave., Whittier, Calif., 90602.