Katherine Blair Aldred

Katherine Blair Turner Aldred, 75, transitioned from this earth on October 19, 2024, after bravely battling cancer for the past five years. Katherine was born September 11, 1949, in Magnolia, Arkansas to Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Barrow Turner and Eleanor Burdick Stalling Turner. She was a resident of Lynchburg, Virginia. 

She is predeceased by her beloved husband John Peter Aldred and survived by her brothers, Herbert Barrow Turner Jr ( Sandy) Kingsport, Tennessee and Robert Wynne Turner ( Kathy) of Lynchburg, Virginia; daughters: Eleanor “Misti” Martin Berry ( Shay) of Sharon, Vermont; Blair Martin Petteway ( Steve) of Apex, North Carolina; Anne Martin Esposito ( Richard) of Indered Farm, Lynchburg, Virginia and Lauren Martin Smith ( Jason) of Raleigh, North Carolina; Seven grandchildren that affectionately called her “Maw Maw Kate” - Emma Katherine Petteway, Addison Jane Petteway, Easton Robert Petteway, Oscar Stewart Esposito, Lucile Barrow Esposito, Sutton Ainsley Smith and Lawson Wynne Smith and her beloved “cuzzins”, nieces and nephews, close friends and caretakers, Charmaine and Mary. 

A graveside celebration will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery November 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. where Katherine will be laid to rest beside her dear Mother. 

Her family is taking comfort that beautiful Katherine is surely looking her best, with perfect hair and makeup, as she shines brightly in the heavens. Katherine’s vibrant spirit and passion for life will be deeply missed but will live on in our hearts forever. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society (Donate Today | The American Cancer Society) or Planned Parenthood (Still fighting. No matter what. (weareplannedparenthoodaction.org) as both causes were close to her heart and the latter aligned with her strong advocacy for women’s reproductive rights. 

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.