Kathleen "Kay" Mae Whitley

Kathleen “Kay” Mae Whitley, longtime resident of Loudoun County, Virginia, died on August 1, 2021 with her family by her side at her home of 2 ½ years in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Born to John and Alice Rowe in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on October 1, 1926, Kay was the second of ten children raised in the depression era.

Kay loved spending time with her family; she had five children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

She loved playing and teaching people how to play card games and she loved the Washington Redskins. She was an avid reader and was always ready to discuss her latest read with anyone who would listen. She was a wonderful seamstress and made the best chocolate cake ever. At 90, she discovered a new hobby of making jewelry.

Her loved ones will never forget her grace, independence, tenacity, and sense of humor. Kay loved to laugh and to hear others laugh. She will be remembered mostly for her love for her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, Ronald Rowe, and three sisters, Barbara Murphy, JoAnn Clark, and Lois Harper.

She is survived by siblings John Rowe, Phyllis LoCastro, Marlene James, Telford Rowe and his wife June, and Gary Rowe and his wife Shari, along with many nieces and nephews.

She will never be forgotten by her children for whom she was so loved by: Nancy Hamilton, Susie Hamilton Mason, Judy Seward and her husband Lon, Earnest "Coy" Early, and David Whitley and his wife Andrea.

She also leaves behind eight devoted grandchildren: Christy Lentile, Yvonne Eble and her husband Kevin, Mike Lentile and his wife Bonnie, Linda Conry, Neil Mason, Allison Whitley, Melanie Ramon and her husband Keith, and Kevin Whitley.

Lastly, she will be sorely missed by her eight great-grandchildren: Kristin Sundheimer and her husband Jeremy, Colleen Large and her husband Logan, Kyle Eble, Clint Lentile, Abby Conry, Quinn Conry, Carter Conry, Michael Conry, and Chloe Lentile. And only a few months before her passing, she became a great-great grandmother to Lincoln Sundheimer, who would no doubt have been doted on by Grandma Kay.

A memorial service will be held on October 3, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. at St. James Episcopol Church (14 Cornwall St NW, Leesburg, VA 20176). A reception will follow at 16560 Levade Dr Leesburg, VA 20176. These plans may change due to the Covid-19 delta variant.

As an expression of sympathy and in remembrance of Kay, donations can be made to Crescent Hospice (10 Buckingham Plantation Dr, Bluffton, SC 29910) or a local food bank. 

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