Doris Katherine Sutherland

Bartow- Doris Katherine Sutherland, 85, of Bartow, Florida, passed away on December 2, 2017. Kathy Sutherland was born Doris Katherine Walker in Bartow Florida, October 13, 1932, and graduated from Summerlin Institute in 1950 where she was active in social clubs and was a school cheerleader. She married her high school sweetheart, the late Major David Sutherland, in 1951. The couple lived in Gainesville, Florida, where Kathy worked for Southern Bell. As the wife of a career Air Force officer, Kathy and her family were stationed at AF bases throughout the world, including France and Germany. Because many of her husband’s missions were classified she was often left alone for months at a time caring for her growing family. During these periods several wives would move their families in together to distribute the work of caring for the young children. But these periods of single parenting did not stop her from loading her children in the family car and exploring Europe. She would hitch a camping trailer to the family car and take the kids camping in small French or German towns and in the country side. She was quite the explorer and wanted her children to experience as much as possible of the foreign cultures in which they lived. While living in France Kathy continued her education through correspondence courses from the University of Maryland and she attended Cordon Bleu classes in Paris. Kathy was known for her culinary skills and certain dishes she prepared drew extra interest from neighbors and local relatives. Upon David’s retirement, Katherine and David returned to their beloved Bartow and went into real estate, starting their own real estate company focusing on all areas of real estate in Central Florida. During this period, she also worked for the Polk County School Board in the Maintenance Department and then the Exceptional Student Education Program. For many years she was secretary of the First United Methodist Church in Bartow. Kathy enjoyed hosting groups and parties in her Bartow home, teaching many local children and her grandchildren to swim in the family pool. During summers her grandchildren would stay with her for several weeks, swimming, biking and taking advantage of Bartow’s small town life. At Christmas she would hold an open house, preparing savory delights for friends and family. Mrs. Sutherland is survived by her son David Sutherland and wife Sarah of Athens, Georgia, daughter Kathryn Susan Willcockson and husband Joel of Lakeland, Florida and daughter Holly Ann Sutherland of Columbus, Georgia, five grandchildren and four great grand children. Katherine was preceded in death by her husband David and late son, James Alan Sutherland of Atlanta Georgia. The family will be receiving friends from 4 PM to 5 PM Friday, December 8, 2017 at Whidden-Mclean Funeral Home, 650 East Main Street, Bartow, FL. Services will begin at 5 PM. Katherine will then be interred with David at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Bartow First United Methodist Church in Katherine’s name. Condolences to family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com