Katherine Ann Collie Speegle, 88, passed away July 28, 2016 after a brief illness.

Born April 11, 1928, she was raised in Keeling, VA with her two younger brothers.  Katherine graduated valedictorian from her high school and entered Madison College, now JMU, as a math major.  After graduating from college, she took a job with NACA, now NASA.  As one of the early "women scientists" at NACA, Katherine coauthored several papers analyzing heat transfer on hemispheric cones at Mach speed.   Katherine met and married the love of her life, Bill Speegle in August of 1956.  They settled in Marlbank Farm where they built their home, residing there until their deaths.  There they were faithful members of Grace Episcopal Church.  Summers were spent at their Buckroe Beach home.

An extraordinary and elegant woman, Katherine spent her life as a tireless volunteer supporting both the arts and community organizations.  Her efforts included chairing numerous committees and fundraisers for area charitable organizations.  Throughout the years, she presided over the York County PTA, was a member Emeritus of the Junior League of Hampton Roads, served on the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church and was Treasurer of the Grace Episcopal Day School.  She also volunteered her time and efforts to On the Hill, the Gallery at York Hall, the Waterman's Museum, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, among others.  Always sociable, Katherine enjoyed events with the dinner group, parties with friends, bridge group and with her husband was a longtime supporter and season ticket holder to W&M football and basketball games.   She remained active until her health prevented her from continuing her work.

Katherine was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, just shy of their 60th anniversary.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, John and Elizabeth Leslie Donald Collie, an infant grandchild, William Hobart Thompson, and her younger brothers, John Collie and James Donald Collie.  She is survived by her twin children, Elizabeth S. Thompson (Mark) and James W. Speegle, Jr. (Cindy) as well as four grandchildren, Katherine J. and Matthew W. Thompson and Laiken D. and James W. Speegle, III.  Also surviving Katherine are eight sisters-in-law Barbara Collie, Margaret Collie, Virginia Kyle, Betty Chapman (Milton), Anne Wentworth, Frances Cocke, and Ellen Moseley (Robert), and brother-in-law Hobart Speegle (Jane).   She is also survived by twenty nieces and nephews and their families.

The family will receive friends and family Tuesday between 5:00-8:00 PM at the home of Jim and Cindy Speegle. A funeral service will be conducted at Grace Episcopal Church at 3:00PM on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

Memorial funds may be made in lieu of flowers to Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown.