Catharine Thomson Kingsolver was born on May 27, 1921, in Nainital, India, to Reverend Clinton and Dr. Bertha Thomson who were missionaries for the Disciples of Christ.
Catharine started school in India at 4 years old. Upon the 1928 accidental drowning of her father, the Disciples of Christ Mission Board requested that Dr. Thomson and her five children return to America. Dr. Thomson established her medical practice in Bethany, Nebraska, a suburb of Lincoln. Catharine continued her grade school in Bethany and then went on to attend Bethany High where she sang in Triple Trio, accompanied the orchestra on the piano, and graduated valedictorian. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan her freshman year where her older sister was a senior at the time. Upon the persuasion of a dear friend, she transferred to Hastings College and graduated in 1942.
The summer before her senior year she met her future husband, Richard Kingsolver. They married in 1943, and their first child Stephen Grant was born in 1944 while Richard was serving in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific. Catharine lived in Peru, Nebraska, during the time Richard was serving in WWII. When Richard returned from the war, they moved to Black Forest, Colorado, and built a home. Their second child Christine was born in 1948. Their third child Nancy was born in 1951 when they were living in Fort Collins, Colorado, while Richard worked on his Master’s at Colorado State University.
Catharine utilized her musical talent and accomplishment in many different ways. She directed the Christian Church choir when the family lived in Winfield, Kansas, and sang in the choir when they lived in McCook, Nebraska. The family lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, when Richard received a National Science Foundation grant to study at the University of Utah and Catharine not only sang in the church choir but also had the opportunity to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
When the family moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 1959 Catharine sang in the Christian Church choir and gave private piano and voice lessons. In addition, she sang in the Casper Chorale and was a member of the Wyoming Music Teachers Association. She directed church choirs at Bethel Baptist, First Christian and Winter Memorial where she was known for producing extraordinary cantatas as well as providing inspiring spiritual music on a weekly basis.
After her husband’s passing in 1992, Catharine continued to live in her home on Chestnut and eventually moved to Primrose Retirement Community where she resided until her passing.
Mrs. Kingsolver is preceded in death by her mother and father; her husband Richard Kingsolver; her sister, Margaret Dunkleberg; her brother, Paul Thomson: her sister Ellen Hanly, and her sister Alice Hasenyager. She is survived by her children Stephen Grant Kingsolver of Casper, Christine Kingsolver Palmer and her husband Allen Palmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Nancy Kingsolver of Lakewood, Colorado; her granddaughters Samantha and Stephanie Kingsolver of Casper; step-grandchildren Angie Palmer of Superior, Colorado; Andrew Palmer and his wife Wendy Palmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and step-great-grandchildren Colin and Tyler Lanphear of Superior, Colorado; and Ian Palmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado.