Kathryn Jordan (Brown)

Kathryn Brown Jordan passed away at Country Meadows York, on September 15, 2017 at the age of 98. Kathryn was born on Brown Croft Farm in Fawn Grove on November 21, 1918, to Marvin and Aurora (Olsen) Brown. Kathryn was the wife of S. Fred Jordan, who preceded her in death, and to whom she was married for 45 years, living on Maple Hill Farm in Stewartstown. Kathryn was an avid reader and loved learning. Graduating from Fawn Grove High School, at the age of 16, she left for West Chester Teacher's College, graduating in 1937. Kathryn went on to teach in three different one room schools, and when WW II started, went out West to work for the DuPont Corporation, which was building parts for the atomic bomb. She later returned East, teaching kindergarten in York and continuing her education at Penn State, where she earned her M.Ed. Kathryn was the first elementary school librarian for South Eastern School District, organizing the first libraries in the three elementary schools. Kathryn also created a summer reading program for the elementary schools, a "Bookmobile" that traveled throughout the school district all summer long. She then became the librarian at the new South Eastern Middle School and retired in 1983. As the school librarian, Kathryn was put in charge of South Eastern's first computer, and in her late fifties, taught herself how to use it. It was a given, that Kathryn would want a computer for herself at home. Over the next 35 years, she went on to have three different desktop computers, an iPad, a Kindle, and a laptop, which she enjoyed for her email and research. At 95 she requested a smartphone, but the keys were too small, and she had to give up that idea. When Kathryn retired, she devoted much of her time to her first love, which was family genealogy and local history. In 2001, Kathryn became an active member of the Stewartstown Historical Society (SHS) and has received numerous recognitions and awards for her volunteer efforts. In conjunction with several other SHS members, she helped to create and publish two books on Southern York County history, and this past year, "One Room, One Teacher, From One Room Schools to the Consolidation of the South Eastern School District", with author, Roger Wilson. One of the greatest compliments she has been given is the phrase often heard when searching for hard-to-find knowledge of local history, people and dates, "Well, you will have to ask Kathryn about that". One of her most memorable experiences was attending the ceremony honoring Dr. Fariborz Maseeh at the Samuel Martin Jordan Center for Persian Studies at University of California Irvine. Kathryn was a lifelong member of Centre Presbyterian Church and was its first woman elder. She also served as the church historian, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir for many years. Kathryn is survived by a son, Darrell Evan Griffiths of NY, NY; daughters, Rachel Jordan Hall of Atlanta, GA, Rosanne Jordan White, of Jacksonville, FL; a grandson, Jordan D. Hall of Atlanta, GA; her brother, Joseph M. Brown, of Fawn Grove; and many nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; and a great-great-nephew and niece. She was preceded in death by her sister, Martha "Betty" Brown. A funeral service will be held on Friday September 22 at Centre Presbyterian Church, 83 New Park Rd., New Park PA 17356. The family will receive relatives and friends from 11 a.m. to12 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be immediately following in the Centre Church Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at Country Meadows York, South for the wonderful care they have given Kathryn over the years, Deanie King and her caregivers, for always being there for Kathryn, and Grane Hospice who made the last six months of her life a comfortable and peaceful experience, for both Kathryn and her family. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Centre Church Cemetery Association or the Stewartstown Historical Society.