Staats, Catherine

Passed:

Age: 97

Source:

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2007-07-24

Information: Catherine Thornburg Staats, 97, of Shelby, NC, formerly of Charleston, passed away July 24, 2007, at the home of her daughter following several years of declining health.  She was born January 7, 1910, in Huntington, a daughter of the late Edgar H. Thornburg and Bertha McGlathery Thornburg.  She was educated in Huntington schools, graduated from Miss Madeira's School in Washington, DC, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.  She married Dr. Charles E. Staats of Staats Hospital in 1935 and they established their home in Charleston.  A leader by nature, Mrs. Staats was a member of and served as an officer in many church, civic, and volunteer organizations.  Among these were the First Presbyterian Church, Edgewood Garden Club, Kanawha Garden Council, West Virginia State Garden Council, Kanawha Girl Scout Council, League of Women Voters, PTA, Kanawha Medical Society Auxiliary and the Charleston Figure Skating Club.  She was named a Charleston Clubwoman of the Year by the Charleston Gazatte.  She and Dr. Staats enjoyed extensive travel including taking expeditions to various areas of the world to view solar eclipses, and in the United States following the National Figure Skating Championships.  Survivors include her daughter Ann Evans Staats Brant and her husband George of Shelby, NC; her son Charles E. Staats Jr. and wife Mary Ellis Staats of Charleston, SC; grandchildren George Evans Brant and wife Michele of Tega Cay, SC; Catherine Ward Brant of Greenville, NC; Charles Camden Brant of High Point, NC; Dr. Andrew Robertson Brant and wife Nicole of Morganton, NC; Susannah Carlyle Chesluk-Staats and husband Ben of Philadelphia, PA; Amy Evans Staats and husband Jeff Morris of New York and Charles E. Staats III of Charleston, SC and great grandchildren Sophie Arrington Brant of Charlotte, NC; Ethan Andrew Brant and Alexander Nicholas Brant of Morganton, NC and Olive Margaret Chesluk-Staats and Ezra Chesluk-Staats of Philadelphia, PA.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Charles Edgar Staats and her brother Paul Lewis Thornburg.  A private service will be held at the family cemetery in Evans.