One of eleven children of the late Butler and Gertrude Champion, she was preceded in death by all five of her brothers, Troy, Marion, William, Hugh and Fred; and three sisters, Bessie Pack, Ruby McDowell Jackson and Elsie Medford.

The two survivors of this well-known and highly respected Polk County family are Kathleen&squo;s sisters Clois Jackson and Mildred Hill, who now live in Henderson County.

Also mourning her passing are her husband of 48 years, Thomas A. Fletcher, her son, Larry P. Panther and his wife Patsy and their daughters Amy and Maria.

Kathleen came to Henderson county in 1962 and worked with the General Electric Company until her retirement in 1990. Since then, her most pleasurable and important occupation has been bonding with her two grandchildren, whom she dearly loved.

She spent her last days in the care of the competent and compassionate staff of Pardee Memorial Hospitals&squo; Intensive Care Unit.

A funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 20 in the chapel at Forest Lawn Mortuary. The Reverend Harold McKinnish, a former pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church where Kathleen was a member, will deliver her last rites. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the charity of choice.

Forest Lawn Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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