Kathryn Frances Swisher Koerner, age 107, went peacefully home to Jesus on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Wheeling, WV. She was born on November 10, 1918, in Parsons, WV, the fourth of five children born to the late Francis Columbus Swisher and Flossie Kate Lantz Swisher. Kathryn grew up in Elkins, WV, and learned to drive a car at age 13 – just before the state required drivers’ tests. After graduating from Elkins High School, she was employed as a switchboard operator in Weston, WV, by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company until October 1938, when she married Clarence “Butch” Koerner, her partner and helpmate until his death 53 years later. Their three children inherited the family’s core values: self-discipline, honesty, accountability, loyalty, and hard work.
Kathryn was always willing to work outside the home to help her family, and her will was strong. She won several performance awards at the apple processing plant in Winchester, VA, and after moving to Philippi, WV, she persuaded Dr. Raymond Cronlund to hire her at the Myers Clinic, even though there was no job opening at the time. Several years later, she earned her LPN diploma from Winchester Hospital; at 48 years of age, Kathryn was the second-oldest graduate in her class. The Martinsburg, WV Veterans Affairs Medical Center immediately employed her, and she
worked there until her retirement 10 years later.
After retirement, Kathryn volunteered at Winchester Hospital and with Life Lines. She enjoyed cultural offerings in the area, especially at Shenandoah College and the Kennedy Center. She took trips with friends and family to the United Kingdom, Nova Scotia, Cape Cod, Philadelphia, and the 1982 World’s Fair. Kathryn was a voracious reader and never understood boredom. Her sense of humor was a joy to all of you who knew her. She gave wonderful hugs and no visitor ever left her home empty-handed. One of her dreams was to learn quilting. At age 68 she took a class at Belle Grove Plantation and went on to make nine quilts entirely by hand (piecing and quilting), receiving many blue ribbons and best of shows. At a 1994 national show, Kathryn was awarded “Best Workmanship” for her white-on-white, the “Cadillac of quilts”; her quilting stitches were so tiny and even that judges required Kathryn’s instructor to confirm she hadn’t used a machine. She was an active member of Stephens City United Methodist Church and quietly donated to the music program (and many others) over the years. In addition to her husband and parents, preceding her in death are her siblings: Elwood, Betty, Murl and Boyd, and a grandson, Stephen. She is survived by her three children: Fred (Sandra) Koerner, Linda (Gary) Bryant, and Steven (Judy) Koerner; seven grandchildren: Bud, Scott, Kim (Chris), Chad (Stephanie), Katie (Will), Erika (Dave) and Jason (Laurie); 14 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and their families. Kathryn lived out her faith by quietly showing grace, love, hospitality, kindness, and generosity to everyone she knew. She is beloved and missed by her family and many friends, but we rejoice knowing she is finally home.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Stephens City, VA. Local arrangements were made by Kepner Funeral Homes, 166 Kruger Street, Wheeling, WV (304-242-2311).
