Katharine Battelle McMillan, 89, of Wilmington, Ohio passed away Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio after a brief illness. She was born April 29, 1928 in Dayton, Ohio, daughter of the late Donald D. and Katharine Bard Battelle. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1946 and from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1950 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She graduated from the American Youth Foundation Christian Leadership Training Program in 1949.
While working in Butler County as a home demonstration agent for the Ohio State University Extension Service, she met and married Thomas Carroll McMillan in 1952. They lived on the family Century Farm where they actively farmed in Chester Township. She also taught school in Adams Township and Clarksville schools. Thomas preceded her in death in 1994.
A member of the New Burlington Chapter 363 Order of the Eastern Star, she was Worthy Matron in 1961 and Deputy Grand Matron of District 21 in 1963. She was a member of the George Clinton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Six and Twenty Club, a 50-year member of Chapter F of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a member of Chester Friends Meeting, Sharon Mothers’ Club, the Wilmington Garden Club, Clinton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Sugar Grove Cemetery Board of Directors and an elected member of the Clinton County Republican Central Committee. She was a member and first president of the Wilmington branch of the American Association of University Women and a member of the Senior Citizen Board and Cincinnati Council on Aging board of directors. She was also a member of several bridge clubs.
In 1985, she formed and chaired a committee of community leaders to investigate the possibility of building a continuing care retirement community in Wilmington. After continued effort by the committee, Cape May was built and subsequently managed by Ohio Living.
Moving to Cape May from the family farm in 2001, she continued to serve on the Board of Cape May and many of its committees. She was recognized as an Outstanding Woman of Clinton County in 2008 in recognition of her community service and her leadership role in establishing Cape May Retirement Community.
Kay’s genuine interest in people and her outgoing nature meant she never met a stranger. She was known for her personal warmth and the passion she brought to the projects and organizations with which she was affiliated. She was loved and admired by everyone whose lives she touched.
She is survived by three daughters: Mary Kay (Gary) Vance of Wilmington; Jennifer McMillan (Marc) Rubin of Durham, NC; and Karen McMillan (William) McCary of Memphis Tennessee; grandchildren, Bryan Thomas Rubin and Bonnie Katharine McCary; and a brother, R. Bard (RoseAnn) Battelle of California. In addition to her husband and parents, a sister, Joan Hazard, is preceded in death.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, August 21, 2017 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South Street, Wilmington, Ohio. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Sunday, August 20, 2017 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Living, Cape May Foundation, 175 Cape May Drive, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.
For more information or to sign the registry of condolences visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com