Katherine Radcliff

Katherine Jane “Kathy” Radcliff, age 78, of Donnelsville, Ohio, passed away on August 24, 2026, after courageous battles with a long illness. She was born on December 20, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio.
Kathy was the cherished daughter of Michael and Doris Walter. She was preceded in death by her adored parents and her long-missed infant grandson, Matthew Maverick Gilreath.
Throughout her life, Kathy’s twinkling brown eyes, adventurous spirit, charisma, and good humor endeared her to everyone she met.
Kathy is survived by Lewis Radcliff, her husband of 42 years; her beloved children by blood and by love, Bud, Walter, Cynthia, Tony (Amanda), Shane, Shannon, Tina, and (John) and her beloved grandchildren by blood and by love, Erik, Kate, Dylan, Halana, Pierce, Corey, Courtney, Cameron, Chelsea, Corinne, John, and Logan.
Grandma Kathy was affectionately known as “Grandma Big Van,” a name that captured her larger-than-life spirit and the boundless love, joy, and unwavering devotion she poured into every moment with her grandchildren.
Kathy is too colorful and compassionate to ever forget and so difficult to say goodbye to. We hope that when she takes heavenly breaks to check in on her family, we might catch a glimpse of those twinkly brown eyes and that engaging big smile in quiet moments when we feel her presence.
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The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. Her guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.” But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So, she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”
Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,” A little patience and we will be there.”
So, the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.”
And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength.”
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.” And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last, they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.
And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”
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