Kathleen “Kathy” Joy Allison of Winona Lake, Ind., went to be with her Lord at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at her residence at the age of 61.
She was born on July 18, 1955, in Warsaw, Ind., to Ruth (McCombie) and Roy Allison and was a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, Ind.
She graduated magna cum laude in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind. She was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in 1985. She received her Master of Arts in Communication in 1991 from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind.
From 1991-1992 Kathy was an Assistant Professor of Communication at Indiana State University, as well as a part-time Communication Professor at Ivy Tech Community College in Warsaw, Ind., from 1995-2006. Kathy had worked as a part-time Communication Professor at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., from 1985-2008, where she developed and taught a variety of courses in the department.
Kathy was the Director of Communication at Grace Brethren North American Missions in Winona Lake, Ind., from 1993-2006, and from 2007-2012 was the Orthopaedic Scholar Institute Facilitator at Grace College. Most recently, since 2012 to present, she was a communication instructor at Grace College where she taught public speaking, interpersonal communication, communication ethics, and public relations.
She was also a scriptwriter and voice-over talent for corporate videos, radio and television commercials at Video and Sound Productions in Warsaw from 1993-2004. Kathy performed several times as Ma Sunday, wife of evangelist Billy Sunday, in community productions of “Down the Sawdust Trail” in Winona Lake, Ind. She was the annual featured speaker/performer for the Winona Literary Club in Winona Lake.
She will be lovingly remembered by her brother: Neil (wife Leana) Allison (Warsaw, Ind.); and her sister: Patricia (husband David) Mikel (Nappanee, Ind.). She also leaves behind a nephew: Scott (wife Amy) Allison (Columbia City, Ind.); four nieces: Heidi (husband Brian) Barrick (Ypsilanti, Mich.); Tricia (husband Robert) Roshau (Phoenix, Ariz.); Kristy Mikel (Nappanee, Ind.); Beth Mikel (Nappanee, Ind.); three great-nieces: Shelby Allison, Ainsley Barrick, and Ellie Barrick. Also surviving are two aunts: Shirley (husband Bruce S.) Berkey (State College, Pa.); Cally (husband Wilmer) Stiles (Homer City, Pa.); and one uncle: George (wife Kathy) McCombie (Johnstown, Pa.). She was preceded in death by her father Roy Allison on June 7, 1986, and her mother Ruth Allison on November 20, 2015.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017, from 10:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Ind. Her funeral service will follow immediately at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Reverend Tom Miller and Peg Willman. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Salem Cemetery in Wilmot, Ind.
Memorial donations may be directed to Grace College and Theological Seminary, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590; or to Treasures for the Heart Ministries, P.O. Box 734, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590 and would be appreciated by her family.