Children have lost a strong advocate. Johnnie Katherine (Kathy) Hale Dittrich, 60, of Kyle, died Friday, July 2, 2010 in a San Antonio hospital. Katherine was the principal of Krueger Elementary School in Marion, where she had worked 20 years.
Before working in Marion she served as principal of Wimberley Elementary and Green Elementary of Hays CISD after teaching kindergarten and first grade in Pasadena and Wimberley.
Whether a teacher or an administrator, she doggedly stood up for children, speaking on their behalf in the classroom as well as the courtroom. She consistently asked herself and her staff, “Is this the best thing we can do for this student?” Children always came first.
Husband, Robert Bernd Dittrich of Kyle, sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Holly Dittrich of Fort Worth and Richard and Patty Dittrich of Kyle and the light of her life, granddaughter Rachel Dittrich of Kyle, survive her. Mother, Tennie Hale of San Marcos, also survives her. Surviving siblings and spouses are: Doretha and Bill Norville of Pasadena, Martha and Norman Brown of Dayton, Charles and Barbara Hale of Huntsville and Mary and Eddy Etheredge of Kyle. Nieces and nephews who survive her are: Nancy Brown Baker of Liberty, Dale Brown and Jo Brown Riley of Dayton, Robin Hale Moore of Blanco, Susan Brown Addington of Dayton, Lee Norville of Pasadena, Sarah Norville Ludeke of Deer Park, Laura Etheredge Sobczak of Rapid City, SD, Jeff Etheredge of Austin, Charla Hale Cobel of Parumph, NV and Chuck Hale of Houston.
Katherine was born October 23, 1949, in Marlin. The family lived on a farm between Marlin and Groesbeck until their father died in 1953, when they moved to San Marcos for their mother to finish college. Three years later they moved to Pasadena, where Katherine attended 12 years of public school, graduating from Pasadena High School. She received a B.S. in Education from Eastern New Mexico State and a M.Ed. from Southwest Texas State University.
High school sweethearts, Bernd and Katherine recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
A celebration of her life was held on Tuesday, July 6, at Buda United Methodist Church, where Katherine was a member. She will be buried in Morgan, a place where she enjoyed spending time on her mother’s family farm.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to CASA (casaforchildren.org) or the Methodist Children’s Home of Waco, Texas.
