Storke Funeral Home Obituaries

PHILIP, Kathleen Elwin Dolan, parted peacefully on December 9, 2023, in the comfort of her loving family in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 96 years. She was predeceased by her darling husband, William “Bill” Francis Philip, and her beloved daughter, Patricia Kathleen “Kathy” Philip. She is survived by Debra Page Philip Mitchell, daughter (Tom); Margo Page Mitchell, granddaughter; William Patrick Philip, son (Leslie); Lindsey Abigail Philip, granddaughter; Wesley Fleming Mallory, Jr., grandson (Ashlee); Wesley Fleming Mallory, III and Blanton Thomas Mallory, great-grandsons; Ashley Philip Mallory, grandson (Tracey); Nolan Ashley Mallory, great-grandson; Emerson Kathleen Mallory, great-granddaughter, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Redeemer, 8275 Meadow- bridge Road, Mechanicsville, Virginia, on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11am immediately followed by a reception before proceeding to the interment to take place at Signal Hill Cemetery, Route 301, Hanover, Virginia. Born September 23, 1927, to her parents, Sadie Lewis Smith Dolan and Walter Peyton Dolan, Sr., she was the middle child of seven—Loyce Wilkerson, Walter Peyton Dolan, Jr., Carolyn Hughson, Kenneth Dolan, Marjorie Jacqueline “Jackie” Seay, and Margaret Ann “Polly” Haden. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings, many nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Born in Nelson County, Virginia—the area made famous by the long-running television show, The Waltons—a true story about a family like her own who lived and toiled in this rural area during the difficult years of the Great Depression. Several years later, the family relocated to Buckingham County and were living in New Canton when as a young adult she struck out for Richmond. Soon after beginning what would become her 33-year career at C&P (“The Telephone Company”), this beautiful young woman met a handsome young man on a blind date. Sparks flew and only a few months later they married on her father’s birthday, November 19, 1949. Hard-working, feisty, strong-willed, high-spirited, and seemingly ageless, Kathleen’s spirit shone brightest when dancing, telling jokes, laughing and being silly and fun-loving. The couple reared their identical twin daughters and son in the Richmond area and after retirement moved full-time to their second home in Center Cross, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River before returning to Mechanicsville in 1997. Without the demands of work, life at the river was very full. She was an enthusiastic member and officer of the Tappahannock Women’s Club and passionately pursued gardening, floral arranging, dancing, crafting, leading aerobics classes, gatherings with extended family, and countless activities with limitless energy. She and Bill, the love of her life, fished, crabbed, and boated to their heart’s content. For 59 years they did everything together. Now, 74 years later, they are once again side-by-side. Reunited beyond this life, they embrace for all eternity.