Kathleen Cassidy Lumpkin

Heaven gained the most beautiful angel this past Monday January 24, 2022, Kathleen C. Lumpkin at the age of 81, passed away peacefully, holding her daughter Rebekah’s hand. Kathleen was a loving wife of 57 years to her husband Robert E. Lumpkin, Sr. She was a devoted mother to her son Robert E. Lumpkin, Jr., daughter, Rebekah Straka, and her most favorite son-in-law Darren Straka. Her most prized role was that of being the best and proudest Nana to her four grandsons Alexander, Christopher, our heavenly son Gabriel and Joseph Straka. Kathleen was born on October 25, 1940, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Joseph Cassidy and Charlotte Cassidy (nee Kassner) who preceded her in death. Kathleen is survived by her two sisters, Patricia Apple (Alfred Apple) and Charlotte Buckenmyer (Fredrick Buckenmyer) as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, great–nieces and great-nephews, other extended family members and many dear friends. Kathleen graduated from Liberty High School, class of 1958, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She attended Bethlehem School of Nursing and obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree. She worked for many years on the OBGYN unit. In addition, she worked as a Passenger Service Agent for American Airlines in New York City. Her most loved profession was serving as an Instructional Assistant at Maple Point High School and Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania for 22 years. She retired in June of 2000 to take care of her first grandson, Alex. Kathleen was known to her family and friends as Kathy, her nieces and nephews lovingly called her Auntie Kathy. She really enjoyed being an aunt and spent many weekends camping with her nieces when they were young. She had an adventurous spirt and loved to travel the world. Kathy and her husband, Bob bought an RV and took their children across the country twice. She was willing and ready to explore every national park in the United States. Kathy would make her children, Rob and Rebekah get out of the RV to take pictures at every national park sign and announce when they would cross another state line. She was fortunate enough to explore all 50 United States. She cruised to many Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. She and her best friend Adrienne spent one summer exploring many European countries. However, her most favorite place on Earth was Assateague Island, between Maryland and Virginia. She and her husband Bob spent many weekends there enjoying the natural beauty and met one of her life-long friends there. In her earlier years, she was an avid horseback rider and loved to see the ponies run free on Assateague Island. She would often share the story of her ability to be mischievous during her childhood. Her mother never knew what kind of trouble Kathleen could get into, Kathy was proud of the fact that she jumped from the Hill-to-Hill Bridge in Bethlehem, Pa. She was exceptionally proud of her Irish-German roots and her hometown of Bethlehem, Pa. As a young child and teenager, Kathy loved ballet dancing and always wanted to live in New York City and dance on Broadway. At the age of 13, she went to work for a local family as a mother’s helper to assist in paying for her ballet lessons. She loved the theater, especially musicals, her enthusiasm for the theater rubbed off on many family members. She was beyond proud of her great nephew that is currently pursuing a degree in musical theater at the University of West Virginia. Her love of family was always evident, and she often found ways to let them know how proud and how much she loved them. Her signature line at the end of every conversation was, “I Love you, more!” In addition, Kathy opened her home to many exchange students from Germany. She was so willing to open her heart and home to learn and understand other cultures and wanted her children to appreciate them as well. The golden rule was her great legacy, she treated people the way she wanted to be treated. Kathy was super creative and taught crafting classes and was a member of her local craft club. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, she made so many beautiful things for Christmas including pinecone wreaths, many handmade ornaments, manger scenes and sleighs. She gave so much of herself to others, she gifted many of the things she created to the ones she loved so deeply. She took so much pride in making boutonnieres and corsages for her grandson’s when they attended their homecoming dances and proms. That was who she was always thinking of others. Kathy had the gift of hospitality; she always made you feel welcome in her home and loved having friends and family at her pool. Her neighborhood did not have a pool, at the beginning of summer she would send a message out on the neighborhood website to invite her neighbors over to enjoy the pool. Kathy loved having a full house and was always willing to get out her good china. She would set the most beautiful table and made you feel like her most important guest. She was a master of hospitality and would make enough food to feed an army. Kathy often sent plates of good food to her neighbors that may not have had a homecooked meal in a while. When Kathy married her soul mate, Bob, in 1964, she moved to Levittown, Pa to be closer to her husband’s place of employment. She quickly made many friends that became like family. In March 2003, Kathy, Bob and Rob moved to Dacula, Ga to be closer to their grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law. It was one of the greatest gifts she gave them to move into their neighborhood. Kathy met and made wonderful friends in Georgia and was so grateful for their open hearts. Kathy was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) with metastasis to her lungs, just over a year ago. She was a warrior and was committed to fighting the cancer with such bravery. The chemotherapy treatments were so hard on her, but she battled through them and was committed to living her life. God had other plans for her and expressed his mercy on her, she fell and hit her head and never regained consciousness. Her family and friends are ever so grateful for the love and support that has been shown during this difficult time. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in Memory of Kathleen Lumpkin.

Kathleen Cassidy Lumpkin

October 25, 1940 - January 24, 2022