Kathryn Ruth Stern Walters

Kathryn “Kathie” Ruth Stern Walters, age 89, of Fountain Hills passed away Feb. 20, 2015 after several short illnesses.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church with a reception following the service.

Kathie was born to Herman and Olga Stern of Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 24, 1925. She attended Magnolia Elementary, Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana Junior College and graduated from UCLA in 1947 with a degree in political science.

As an early female pioneer, explorer, adventurer and athlete, Kathie’s journey led her in April 1945 to corral her girlfriends to hitch-hike to San Francisco to participate in the “San Francisco Conference,” the first gathering of delegates to establish the charter for the United Nations or UN.

A pioneering trip with her girlfriends to Fairbanks, Juneau and Nome, Alaska, where they prospected for gold, joined the Juneau Ski Club, and worked to support their adventures, was followed by their purchase of newly imported English Raleigh bicycles and then ventured down the Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway, as Kathie and Muriel rode their bicycles back to Villa Park, Calif. to find Kathie’s’ mother, Olga, and her brother Gil sitting in the backyard awaiting their return.

Upon returning to California Kathie took a job as assistant to both the Women’s Dean-Mira Howes and Men’s Dean-Fred Huber for Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Kathie’s interest in government and politics was enhanced by her opportunity to work alongside the Honorable John J. Phillips -- member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly- created 22nd District from California. This responsibility took her to the seat of political power – Washington, D.C. Kathie’s ambition to travel and desire along with her political and linguistic skills propelled her to venture overseas to Paris, France.

While first working for Time-Life magazine her interests were of travel and adventure and true to Life’s motto “To see Life; to see the world,” Kathie was off exploring the rich European history that was a favorite study for her at UCLA.

Kathie’s government/political and service interests returned to the forefront with an opportunity to use her multi-linguistic abilities while working for the U.S. State Department in Paris with her office overlooking the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.

While riding her bicycle throughout Europe, rubbing elbows with dignitaries, foreign council members and worldwide emissaries she met her husband Francis “Frank” H. Walters of Blacksburg, Va. in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Their travels throughout Europe, the Near East and South Asia took them as far West as east Pakistan, as far south as central Africa with their 1954 wedding in Genoa, Italy. Kathie’s travel log looks like several seasons of “Rick Steves’ Europe.”

Kathie returned to the United States with her husband, settled and raised her family of two boys Frank-‘56 and Peter-‘58 in Indianapolis, Ind.

While in Indianapolis her desire to travel led her to help found the Indianapolis Ski Club, which become one of her many vehicles to continue her worldwide travel. Skiing activities took her back to Europe to the ski centers of Kitzbuehel, Chamonix-Mont Blanc, Zermatt dominated by the Matterhorn, along with trips to the fledging U.S. Ski Resorts, Sun Valley, Aspen, Vail, Taos and Snowbird. Her other athletic endeavors included golf and tennis in which her excellence was often rewarded by trophies.

Kathie volunteered at the Day Nursery of Indianapolis - childcare educational centers; Riley Children’s Foundation, Riley Hospital and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home benefitting children and their medical, physical and emotional needs.

Kathie also found time while raising her two rambunctious boys to teach French and history at North Central High School along with being the Assistant to the Dean of the Indiana Law School.

Kathie’s love of life was shared often with family and friends around the many social occasions she would host. Her love of cooking often led to new, innovative and storied foods and parties.

Kathie’s love of skiing, food, and socializing culminated with the purchase of El Perdido Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in the ski town of Breckenridge, Colo. in 1985 -- the time of her husband Frank’s retirement. Skiing, cooking and the camaraderie of owning a restaurant allowed her endless hours of self-fulfillment.

As a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, Kathie and Frank joined the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in 1985 upon their relocation to Fountain Hills. Kathie volunteered with the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at Paz de Cristo in Mesa to feed those in need.

With Kathie’s desire to travel and influence others, Kathie became active in the Town of Fountain Hills and its many activities and clubs.

As a member of a delegation from Fountain Hills along with the mayor and previous mayors and other friends, 21 Fountain Hills residents travelled to China promoting Fountain Hills.

Kathie’s inspiration to the challenged, energy to the tired, heart-full for the heart broken was often exemplified by her volunteer efforts, her empathy and inclusion of others.

Kathy was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Frank, and her brother, Herman Rodger Stern, and sister, Beverly Mae Stern.

Kathie is survived by her brother, Gilbert R Stern of Anaheim Hills, Calif., his wife, Jean, who was like a sister; their son, Hunter Stern of San Francisco, Calif.

Also, her son, Frank Walters, and his wife, Nicole, Oswald; son, Peter Walters, his wife, Leslie of Boulder, Colo.; and Kathie’s three grandsons who brought so much love and hope to her for the future, Beau and Eli Walters of Boulder, Colo. and Nicholas Walters of Sacramento, Calif.

The family wishes to extend their condolences to those who lost their dear friend.

Donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 16150 E. El Lago Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.