Kathy Ann Kingston

Kathy Ann Kingston, age 81, of Bellbrook, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saturday, July 8th, 2023. Kathy was born on June 8th, 1942 to B. E. "Herm" and Lavina (Utermoehlen) Schalnat. Even as a child, Kathy loved the stage; she would perform for family in her grandparents home on Grand Avenue in Dayton under the stage name Nancy Ann Jefferson. She started tap and ballet lessons at an early age and continued both into adulthood, performing in numerous high school and college productions and using tap as her talent when competing in pageants. She graduated from Wilmington High School in 1960. She was crowned Miss Southwestern Ohio in 1962. She graduated from Wilmington College in 1963 with a degree in education and later earned a Master's degree at Wright State University. Kathy's love of performing led her to the Centerville Townhall Players, where she was able to act and dance. She also started her teaching career at Centerville High School and Fairmont East, and helped direct plays, choreograph musicals, create and build sets. She became a wife and a mother, and when life's challenges came, she took a break from teaching. She began writing for an advertising agency and even wrote as the "Here-Abouts" columnist for the Dayton Daily News. She later opened an in-home daycare for several years where many of the regulars were affectionately known as "Kathy's Kids." When she decided to go back to teaching, she taught English, public speaking, the peer mentoring program, and again choreographed several musicals at Bellbrook High School during the 20 years prior to her retirement. She was an inspiration and constant support to her students. She loved to attend all the Bellbrook School events, but especially enjoyed watching her own kids and grandkids play sports. During her retirement she sold Mary Kay and spent a number of years serving on the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek School Board. Kathy's faith was of the utmost importance to her. She was a dedicated church member and volunteer, writing and leading several Bible studies and serving in the children's ministry, both a reflection of her love for teaching. She met the love of her life, Kenneth Kingston, at church and was married to him for 30 years before he passed away in 2018. Together they enjoyed traveling, visiting Vietnam, Disney World, the Cayman Islands, and her favorite, Jamaica. They also loved playing cards with their friends. In keeping with her lifelong passion for education and specifically English, Kathy was an avid reader. Kathy liked to golf and garden, taking special care of her irises. Shortly after her husband's passing, Kathy suffered an aneurysm. During the difficult years that followed, she never complained and was constantly appreciative of the love and care she received. In keeping with her heart of gratitude, the family wants to say a special thanks to Kathy's many caregivers through the years, Tuesday, Deb, Shelbi, Savannah, McKenna, Brooklyn, Melissa, and Hospice of Dayton. Kathy was a vibrant, strong, and caring wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. Her loving generosity, wise mind, and gregarious personality will be missed most by her daughters Stacy Bender Tincher (Jason) and Mandy Bender Cameron (Rod), step-children Nam Tran, Kenneth Kingston Jr. (Devon Kestler), Tanya Lopez-Torres (Teodoro), grandchildren Brady Tincher (Kelsey Simpson) and Brooke Tincher, Gage Cameron and Eli Cameron, step-grandchildren Victoria Dang-Stowers (Jeremy), Jacqueline Dang-Phan (Trang), Christopher Dang and their mother Thi Dang-Kirkland, Gabriel and Miguel Ramirez, Mariana, Liliana, and Perla Lopez-Torres, 5 step-great-grandchildren, forever friend and sister in Christ Sue Ellen Stillings, as well as numerous cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Herm and Lavina Schalnat, and her husband of 30 years, Kenneth Kingston. To help the family celebrate her life, you are invited to attend a visitation held in her honor at Conner & Koch Life Celebration Home (92 W. Franklin St. Bellbrook, Ohio 45305) on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Life Celebration Services will be held immediately following the visitation on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 at 12:30 pm. Burial will take place at Bellbrook Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Dayton (https://www.hospiceofdayton.org/donations/), the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Education Foundation (https://rb.gy/am8mm), or the Bellbrook Athletic Association (https://rb.gy/fmv4f). You are welcome to write a condolence message, send flowers, upload a photo, and share a story about Kathy at www.ConnerAndKoch.com.

Kathy Ann Kingston

June 8, 1942 - July 8, 2023