Kathleen Frances (Smith Highfill) Ware, aged 73 of Virginia Beach, VA passed out of this world and into the next in the early morning hours of May 8th, 2019.

Kathy was born in Richmond, VA and was adopted by C. Stewart and Frances (Bratton) Smith of Falls Church, VA. She grew up there and graduated from George Mason High School in 1964. She loved to sing and was in the choir both at school and at Crossman United Methodist Church on Lee Highway. She worked as a secretary for the Surgeon General’s office after graduation. She married James Edwin Highfill in 1968 and moved to Woodbridge, VA.doun Co Vo

She had two daughters, Valerie Frances (Highfill) Sumpter and Jennifer Elaine Highfill. The family moved to Sterling, VA in 1975 and remained there for a long time. She attended the Loudoun County Vocational-Technical school and graduated from the Nursing program there, receiving her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree in 1984. She used that degree well, working at many local medical establishments including Loudoun Hospital Center, Loudoun Internal Medicine Associates, Oncology/Hematology of Loudoun and Reston, various home health care programs, and for private patients through the rest of her life.

After James passed away in 1995, she was reunited with Robert Nathan Ware of Leesburg, VA (they had dated when she was in high school) and they married in December of 1996. They lived in Sterling until he retired, and moved with Jennifer to Cape Cod (Brewster), MA. They all subsequently moved to Paragould, AR to be near extended family and then returned again to Virginia in December 2016, settling in Virginia Beach.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband Robert N. Ware, her daughter Valerie (David) Sumpter, her daughter Jennifer Highfill, her sister-in-law Cheryl Rollins, her brother-in-law Timothy D. Rodgers, her nephews Cory Smith, Kyle Smith, Todd Smith, and Donald Sellers, her nieces Dawn Calcote, Cara Trittipoe-McReynolds, Amy Trittipoe Keene, Laura Trittipoe, several great-nephews and great-nieces, numerous beloved cousins, and a stubtailed cat named PeggySue.

Memorial service details are yet to be determined.

Source:  Family Choice Funeral and Cremations, 5401 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23464