Kathleen Gail Frye Corson
Born December 10, 1936
Died May 21, 2016
Wake Forest
Kathleen passed peacefully into a place where she could dance again on May 21, 2016, at the age of 79 in Wake Forest. She fought a long and difficult battle with Multiple System Atrophy. It is a rare disease that stole everything except her mind.
Kathleen was born with beautiful auburn hair in Youngstown, Ohio, the sixth child of Edwin Forest Frye (West Virginia) and Cora Viola Messer Frye (Kentucky). Her grandfather was Dr. James Benton Messer of Morehead, Kentucky.
She attended Union High School in New Castle where she excelled academically and was head cheerleader for four years. She was elected Harvest Moon Queen in 1952 and to the prom court and was involved in many extracurricular activities such as the church choir, piano lessons, ballet, ice skating, water skiing, theater and tumbling. Her mother taught her how to sew and Kathleen went on to become an accomplished seamstress.
Kathleen graduated with a teaching degree from Youngstown State University in 1958. She spent one summer at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She taught elementary school for several years in Hubbard, Ohio, before meeting the man of her dreams and love of her life, Barry, in 1960. She married him that same year as he was from New York, an engineer (Lehigh University) and a great dancer.
They moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1963 to raise their three children. Kathleen was able to pursue her true calling there. She was blessed as a gifted decorator and designer as well as a dedicated wife and mother. Kathleen owned and successfully ran a women’s clothing store in the D.C. area. One of the original “soccer Moms”; she drove her kids to numerous sports practices and games every week even volunteering as an assistant coach when no one else did. Kathleen and Barry performed with the Northern Virginia Country Western Dance association for many years making wonderful friends. They danced at the White House and The Russian Embassy among other venues.
She is survived by her husband, Barry A. Corson of Wake Forest; her three children and their spouses: Laura C. Root (Steven, Austin, Texas), Cara L. Corson (Cocoa Beach, Florida) and Jeffrey A. Corson (Kristie, Wake Forest); her four grandchildren: Serena, Elese, Natalie and Jacob; her sisters Carole (Frye) Barber (New Castle, Pennsylvania) and Nancy (Frye) Chavel (Studio City, California). She was predeceased by her parents, Cora and Edwin Frye; and siblings and their spouses: Edwin F. Frye Jr., Mary Elizabeth Frye, Margaret & Wayne Patrick, Dorothy and Greg Huber, Robert “Pete” Barber, and Rudy Chavel.
Kathleen’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Transitions Life Care for their dedicated and outstanding care and friendship.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18t, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main Street, Wake Forest. A reception will follow at the Heritage Country Club, 1250 Heritage Club Avenue, Wake Forest.
One Response
I was shocked to see that Kate had passed away. Kate, you will be so very much remembered. We were best friends in high school and both of us cheerleaders for 4 years together. We met up seven years ago when she visited with Barry and me in Naples, Florida. Took pictures and had a great time with Ruth Jones Berkshire. I was trying to find her address to write her, when I discovered her obituary. I will miss you Kate. See you later when I get to heaven too. Love you Kate. Your friend, Alice Heaver (Vannatten). panda13038@aol.com