Kathleen Spangler Vashaw, 85, passed away on May 17, 2026. She will be remembered as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose life was marked by service, faith, and generosity.

She graduated from Bryan High School in 1959, where she was the first Sure-Win mascot, Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. She later received a master’s degree in library science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kathleen served as a medical librarian at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, for 30 years. In that role, she brought together her love of books and science while supporting physicians, scientists, and other medical professionals in their research. Her dedication, generosity, and spirit of service were widely recognized, and she received numerous awards in honor of her contributions.

Kathleen was a woman of deep faith and an avid singer who served in the church choir for much of her life. Most years, she would sing the Navy Hymn in honor of her father, Harlan. She was also active in her church community, leading Bible classes, playing the piano for residents of nursing facilities, and volunteering in soup kitchens.

Kathleen’s memory will live on through her family. She is survived by her husband, Harward (Woody); her two children, Kirkland Vashaw and his wife, Sarah, and Kristina and her husband, Adam Zehner; her six grandchildren, Allison, Lucy, Jackson, Brody, Aaron, and Molly; and her two brothers, Dean and Bruce Spangler. She was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas, and her parents, Harlan and Ernestine Spangler.

A memorial service celebrating Kathleen’s life will be held on Friday, June 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 403 S. Main Street, Mt. Airy