Loveland Councilwoman Pam Gross forwarded this piece of writing to Loveland Magazine and asked if it would be published. She said, “Kathryn Undercoffer was a remarkable woman and I am proud to have gotten to know her because I would not have had the many opportunities in my life without the efforts of women like Kathryn. As a woman, I and so many others owe her a debt of gratitude for her commitment and service to our community and our country. She will be dearly missed.”

Kathryn Undercoffer passed away this May 13, at the age of 100.

 

UNDERCOFFER
Kathryn Undercoffer in the 2013 July 4th Parade in Loveland.

The children of Kathryn often laughingly considered themselves products of a “mixed marriage”. Kathryn a born and bred resident of Price Hill (West Side) became a transplant to Loveland (East Side) when she married a young attorney, and widower, John L. Undercoffer in 1941, thereby also acquiring a son, John Thomas “Tom” Undercoffer.

Shortly thereafter WWII intervened. The war years, 1942-45, found John as the only Red Cross Field Director assigned to Patton’s Invasion of North Africa. John would also serve the American Red Cross during WWII as Supervisor of Communications in Algeria, Field Director in Hawaii, and Island Supervisor of Guam.fran 10:2015

Until his return at the end of the war, Kathryn stayed at her mother’s home on Price Hill and worked as statistician for the Air Transport Command (the strategic airlift component of the United States Army Air Forces, best known for ferrying supplies over the “Hump” in the China, Burma, and India campaign and the Berlin Airlift), headquartered in Cincinnati. Tom continued living on the family farm in Loveland with his paternal Grandmother.

In the years following the war, John resumed his law practice in Cincinnati and Loveland and became a partner in the law firm of Kruse, Outcalt, and Undercoffer. John and Kathryn built a home on a tract of land adjoining the Undercoffer farm on Lebanon Road, Loveland, and saw their family grow with the births of two sons, Graham and Bruce and a daughter, Martha Jane.

With John’s sudden death in 1969, the boys in high school and Martha in the 3rd grade, Kathryn had her Teacher’s License renewed. She became a permanent sub and was commissioned by then Superintendent Lincoln W. Hurst to establish the first Head Start program in Loveland. She then became a First Grade Teacher, which she thoroughly enjoyed until retirement.

Kathryn was active in the social and community life of Loveland, – President of the Loveland Woman’s Club when the Jr. Loveland Woman’s Club was chartered and the Loveland Dental Clinic was established, which treated the needed children of Loveland for a number of years. She was Worthy Matron of Loveland Chapter #289, O.E.S, Historian for the Loveland United Methodist Church, and President of the Greater Loveland Historical Museum Society and later Treasurer during the extensive renovation of the Museum and building of the Rosemary Nisbet Library.LM-TV-Logo

Kathryn’s activities in Loveland continued, and it was her great joy to be chosen 2003 Loveland Valentine Lady, joining a fantastic group of women noted for their contributions to the community.

In 2013 the City of Loveland recognized her contributions to the community by presenting her with the Louis G Rockwood Community Volunteer Service Award.

Kathryn’s community work was not limited to the City of Loveland, she was named a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar; the first woman to serve on the Parents’ Council of Virginia Military Institute, where her sons matriculated, and was recognized for conducting a campaign to have the mothers replace an historic and Battle of New Market flag. The only time such an activity was or has been since undertaken. And, she served for forty years as editor of The Oversear a quarterly publication of the American Red Cross Overseas Association – a national organization of American Red Cross volunteers who served overseas.

 

The Photo Album: “Katherine @ 100” – the Birthday party for Kathryn Louise Graham Undercoffer
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READER-SUPPORTED copy
The Undercoffer bio provided by her daughter Martha

MARRIED – John Lewis Undercoffer on March 29, 1941 – Community Leader; Attorney with offices in Loveland and Cincinnati; Solicitor for City of Loveland; Attorney for Loveland School District; Member of law firm – Kruse, Outcalt, and Undercoffer; and in World War II, Field Director, American Red Cross (only ARC Official with General Patton’s invasion of North Africa; served also in Hawaii and Guam)

FAMILY

Three (3) SONS and One (1) DAUGHTER

  • John Thomas – “Tom” – VMI Class of 1956 – Lt.Col. , U.S. Army – Career – Development of Military Drones – Deceased 2011;
  • Graham Lewis – “Red” – VMI Class of 1974 – Captain, Green Beret, U.S. Army; Specialist on Middle Eastern Affairs, U.S. State Dept.; Consultant, U.S. State Dept.;
  • Bruce William – VMI Class of 1976 – 1st Lt., 82nd Air Borne, U.S. Army – Killed in Automobile Accident – 1978; andacct-plus-6_16
  • Martha Jane – Grants/Bids Writer

Three (3) GRANDSONS and One (1) GRANDDAUGHTER

  • Andrew C. C. Undercoffer– Graduate of Virginia Tech.- Mechanical Engineer;
  • Brian G.J. Undercoffer -.Graduate of Virginia Tech. – Aeronautical Engineer;
  • Cole R.A. Undercoffer – Present Student at Virginia Tech;
  • Caitlin T. T. Undercoffer – Present Student at Virginia Tech.

 

EDUCATION

  • Whittier Elementary School, Cincinnati
  • Western Hills High School, Cincinnati, graduated in 1933
  • Western Kentucky Teachers College, attended 1933 – 1934
  • (Now Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY) Teaching Certificate
  • Miami University, Oxford, Ohio – graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1972
  • Also attended University of Cincinnati and Chase Law School

 

ACTIVITIES

1959 – Worthy Matron, Loveland Chapter #289

1959-60, 1964-66 – Order of the Eastern Star Loveland Woman’s Club, President, Chartered Loveland Jr. Woman’s Club – 1960, Established Loveland Children’s Dental Clinic

1964 – Started Federal HEAD START program in Loveland (1st year funded)

1968 – President, Hayes Family Reunionpizazz-image-template

1965 – 1980 – Although Kathryn started her teaching career prior to her husband’s sudden death in 1969; this career became the family’s only source of income and allowed her to provide for their three (3) young children. She taught 16 years as a 1st Grade teacher in the Loveland City School District until retirement.

1973 -74 – President, Loveland Education Association (Teachers’ Union)

1973 -76 – Virginia Military Institute Parents Council. 1st Woman appointed to the Council. She organized the Mothers of the student body (Cadets) to raise funds, as their Bicentennial gift to the Institute, to replace a historic and costly reproduction of the flag carried by the Corps of Cadets into the battle of New Market on May 15, 1864, and for the student Library. This was the first and only time this had been done.

1987 -88 – Member of Design Committee for Loveland’s Plaque Commemorating Ohio’s Bicentennial.

1987 – 88 – Member of Design Committee to design a permanent panel depicting Loveland highlights in photos and text

1987 -88 – President, Greater Loveland Historical Society Museum. Historian, Loveland United Methodist Church.

 

HONORS

1973 -76 – First Woman to serve on Parents’ Council of Virginia Military Institute

1976 – Named Martha Holden Jennings Scholarogden-ad

1986 – Nominated as a Paul Revere Patriot by the American Red Cross Overseas Association’s Philadelphia Group. Awarded the Order of Paul Revere Patriots by Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

1993 – Presented American Red Cross Overseas Association’s Condict Award for years of service as Volunteer Editor of The Oversea’r

2003 – Named a Loveland Valentine Lady by the Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce

2011 – Elected Honorary Life Member of American Red Cross Overseas Association for 40 years’ service as Editor of their newsletter The Oversea’r

2013 – Presented Louis G. Rockwood Community Volunteer Service Award by the City of Loveland

 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Red Cross Overseas Assn.
  • The Cincinnati Woman’s Club
  • Clan Graham Society
  • Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Greater Loveland Historical Society Museum
  • Hamilton County Retired Teachers Assn.
  • Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Loveland Chapter.No. 289, Order of the Eastern Star Loveland Past Matrons
  • Loveland Retired Teachers
  • Loveland Schools Foundation
  • Loveland United Methodist Church
  • Loveland Valentine Ladies
  • Loveland Woman’s Club
  • P.E.O., Chapter A
  • Unterkoflers of America
  • Virginia Military Institute Foundation

 

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