Cornelia Kathleen (Kitty) Barron

September 29, 1925 - March 3, 2022

Cornelia Kathleen (Kitty) Barron of Dublin, Ohio passed away at home with family and friends by her side on Thursday, March 3,2022 just three years shy of 100 years old. She was born and grew up in Crewe, Virginia on September 29,1925. Kitty was the youngest daughter of Florence Lee Davis Williams, and William Edward Williams. Kitty had brothers Edward and Joseph and a sister Margaret Lucille. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, James Albert Barron Jr. Kitty and Jim have three children plus five grandsons and four great-grandchildren: including sons James Albert Barron III of Carey, N.C., Gerald Lee Barron of Dublin, and daughter Margaret Ellen Barron (Burd). James has sons: Timothy Barron with wife Stephanie and son Patrick Barron in North Carolina. Gerald has son Scott Barron in West Virginia and Margaret has sons: Brandon Burd with wife Stacia of St Louis as well as Christopher Burd of Dublin, Ohio. Great-grandchildren are Makayla Barron of North Carolina plus Daphne, Alexandra, and James Burd of St. Louis. Kitty also leaves behind many adored friends, nieces and nephews and caregivers. Kitty left her small town in Virginia for nursing school at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond as a Nurse Cadet. Nurse cadets were specifically trained for supporting injured troops. Kitty specialized in psychiatric nursing there and was active after graduation, stateside, treating returning troops from WWII. Jim and Kitty met at USO dances in Richmond, Virginia when Jim was in the ROTC program at Duke University. Jim went on to go active in the Navy and the two met once again when the war was over. They married in Richmond in 1947 and like you’ve read about The Greatest Generation, they simply got busy with life. Neither Kitty nor Jim talked about their service and considered themselves just ordinary Americans. Kitty continued nursing private duty at nights only at special times like to save money to buy the family’s first home. She was a full-time wife and mother for about ten years and restarted her career, first as a school nurse and then back into psychiatric nursing. After the family was transferred to Huntington, West Virginia for Jim’s job, Kitty furthered her education while her own kids were teenagers, her beloved mother-in-law had moved in and her husband was traveling extensively. After completing her advanced degree, she continued her career as a psychiatric instructor for student nurses and pre-medical students plus she was director of patient volunteer services until her retirement. Once retired in 1987, Kitty and Jim moved to Dublin and built a new life with family and friends nearby. They constructed a new home and decorated and landscaped their new home together. Kitty and Jim loved dogs and raised several litters of puppies and Kitty even entered the show ring with some of their pups. They both enjoyed being active in politics and Kitty enjoyed the Dublin Women’s Club and garden groups. The Barron’s entertained many times in their home from gourmet dinners to backyard barbecues and Luau’s They especially loved Christmas and were thrilled when all their children and grandsons came home for the holidays. Kitty being a woman of many talents and interests was an avid reader and loved gardening and growing many vegetables and flowers. Her harvests were bountiful, and she shared with everyone teaching many how to can and preserve foods. Her flair for cooking was truly legendary but she never followed the recipe! She also was an accomplished seamstress and upholstered furniture, made draperies as well as prom gowns and baby quilts. One of her last projects was to have a “Bluebird” house erected outside her window and she loved observing the nesting. Kitty was always the nurse and caregiver of the family and was present for every surgery and illness bringing comfort and expertise. Both Kitty and Jim embraced their spiritual life and attended St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington. Kitty served on the Altar Guild and Jim served as Senior Warden. During her long life, Kitty saw dramatic changes in the world but always made the best of difficult situations and was a true optimist finding strength in her Christian faith. She treasured verses from Psalm 23: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord Forever” A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm, May 14th at the Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, 450 West Olentangy Street (Powell) 43065 (614-792-1471). The family will be receiving friends starting one hour before the service at 1pm.