Catherine Stark Eckenrode Obituary

Catherine Ryan Stark Eckenrode, "Kate" to all who knew her, a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and life-long volunteer passed away on May 2, 2015 due to complications of Cancer.

Born in Philadelphia on September 18, 1933, she graduated from Little Flower Catholic School where she was a competitive swimmer, and from Penn State University in 1955 with a degree in Liberal Arts - Drama and English.

At Penn State she met her spouse of 58 years, Richard John "Dick" Eckenrode, of Harrisburg. Kate supported her husband as he finished his education, and together they had three children: John Thaddeus (Tad), Judith Leslie (Judy), and Ellen Louise (Lou.) The family moved from St. Louis, Missouri to Norwalk, Connecticut where the children grew up.

Kate was always volunteering: as a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop Leader, cooking for a women's shelter, and baking for school and church bake sales. Her humorous stories about raising three children made it into print as her "Surviving in Suburbia" column was published in the local Darien News. After two decades in Connecticut, Kate and Dick moved to Rockville, Maryland, where she worked part time for a small law office while Dick worked for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The two attended the college graduations of all three children. Once retired, the couple moved to Colorado Springs to enjoy the mountains, fresh air, skiing, and their rescue dogs.

Kate contributed to every neighborhood and town she lived in, always willing to donate her time and talents whenever asked. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, and her service to others.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents, George and Clara Stark; beloved sister Mary Henderson of Atlanta; and her brother George Stark of Florida.

She is survived by husband Richard; her younger sister Crescentia Anne Healy and her husband Bill of New Hampshire; brother-in-law Bud Henderson of Atlanta; sisters-in-law Mary Carolyn Sandherr from Dillsburg, Pennyslvania and Isabelle Eckenrode of Somers New Jersey; son Tad, his wife Cindy and granddaughters Annika and Lily in St. Louis; daughter Judy Eckenrode Porter in Dallas and her children Danny and his wife Claire, twins Robby and Timmy, and Jenny; and daughter Lou Eftimoff and her husband Jim of Carson, City, Nevada, their son JT and daughter Amy; and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Colorado Springs, Monday, May 18th at 10 a.m.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The University of Colorado Cancer Center or Penn State University.