Obituary

On sunday january 13, at the arthur b. Hodges center in her hometown of charleston, katherine brooks giltinan reached the end of her long and full life. She was born on march 17, 1925, the daughter of george e. And nelle cabell brooks. Her grandfather, c. A. Cabell, was a founding partner of the carbon fuel company. Mrs. Giltinan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, david murray giltinan, jr.  “mrs. Giltinan was preceded in death by her older brother, charles cabell brooks who lived in palm beach gardens, florida; her twin sister nelle lynn brooks of charleston.

Growing up in the 1920’s and 1930’s, katherine “katie” and her twin sister nelle lynn were accomplished equestriennes, competing in horse shows and riding with the kanawha hunt until it disbanded during wwii. The sisters also enjoyed playing tennis, competing as a team in ladies’ doubles tournaments well into their later years. (even into her 90’s, katie would occasionally hit tennis balls with a friend!) fun-loving katie and quieter nelle were a well-known pair around charleston. Beyond her athletic pursuits, katie was a gracious hostess, an avid naturalist, a lover of gardens, music and art, and she was a talented decorator.

As a girl, katie left charleston to attend the shipley school in bryn mawr, pa, and later pine manor junior college in wellesley, ma. She was a lifelong member of the edgewood country club. As an adult, katie served as a docent at charleston’s historic craik-patton house, volunteered at the sunrise museums, and was a member of the daughters of the american revolution and the junior league. Katie also cared deeply about preserving the history and natural beauty of her home state, west virginia.

Throughout the years she maintained an active social life with many friends, including a young veteran and businessman named david giltinan, whom she married on january 6, 1950, at st. John’s episcopal church in charleston. For the next 59 years, they were inseparable companions and together david and katie raised four children, traveled the world, and tried to make their charleston community a better place. They were founding members of the collectors club of the sunrise art museum (now the juliet museum of art at the clay center), supporters of their church, and made contributions to many area organizations. Katie taught her children, “always leave things better than you found them.”

in addition to charleston, katie also loved florida and considered it a second home. From her childhood on, her family wintered at her grandfather’s home near sebastian. She and david continued the family tradition, buying a home near vero beach in 1985, where they enjoyed nature and spending time with family and friends. But their primary home was designed by david and built in south hills. Filled with light and history, it was where they raised their family, entertained their many friends, and where katie always kept a pair of binoculars on the kitchen window, ready to catch a glimpse of whatever birds visited her garden.

While she contributed to her community, her greatest love was for her family. She cherished her children david murray giltinan iii (sally), katherine brooks “kathie” giltinan, john appleton giltinan (don), and lynn giltinan payne (steve) and her granddaughters katherine giltinan young (zack), sharon giltinan (deceased), elizabeth “betsy” giltinan (eric bevilacqua), lynn giltinan, and georgia payne. She leaves them a legacy they will always remember.

The family would like to express deep appreciation to all who cared for katie, especially to joyce phillips.

Memorial service will be 12 noon saturday, january 26, 2019 at kanawha united presbyterian church, charleston. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service in the church in the parlor.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to kanawha hospice (https://www.Hospicecarewv.Org/)or kanawha united presbyterian church (http://www.Kanawha-church.Org/).

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Barlowbonsall.Com .

Barlow bonsall funeral home, charleston has been entrusted with the arrangements.