Kathrine Wheeless Stoltz

Rejoice with family and friends in the long life and loving memory of Kathrine Stoltz, beloved child of God, who completed her time in history and entered her life in eternity with her Savior on April 6, 2026.

Born the day before Thanksgiving, November 28, 1923, in rural eastern NC to Wm. Henry and Mattie Strickland Wheeless, Ellen Kathrine Wheeless entered the world a happy blessing. Her parents had lost a sickly baby boy born at Easter the year before, who died 12 days prior to her birth. The sixth of 14 children, only 8 of whom survived infancy, she grew up during the Great Depression outside Smithfield. She was frugal her entire life and took great pleasure in being a steward of her resources.

She was a joyful child and remained so throughout her 102 years. That joy was founded on her steadfast faith, nurtured by her mother who taught by example. Not to say there were not difficult times in her life: the sudden, unexplained total blindness in one eye that occurred at age 19; the tragic premature death of her husband John Wesley Stoltz in 1972 when she was 48 leaving her the owner/operator of two small motels and a full service restaurant in Sanford, NC.; and her two bouts with breast cancer at ages 90 and 92. Yet her faith kept her grounded throughout these times and she became an even stronger witness to God’s tender mercies.

She valued education, so when her little rural high school offered 11th graders the opportunity of a twelfth year, she immediately signed on. She desperately wanted to go to college, but having been struck blind with no apparent explanation, her father was not willing to send her. Always industrious, her first job was in a jewelry store, then working her way to the managerial position with the China Club of America and eventually becoming the top NC mutual funds sales agent with Investors Diversified Services of Minneapolis in the 1950s. The adventures of motel/restaurant ownership began in 1960 and ended in 1973.

She taught Sunday School for over 70 years having begun as a teenager after her little home church, Sardis Baptist, paid for her to attend Ridgecrest, the NC Baptist Assembly, to take a class in teaching. Never using a note, she taught with passion for the Word from her heart. She was always active in her church, whether in Southern Pines where she and Wesley first lived in the mid-1940s, to her extended time at First Baptist, Sanford, NC, singing in the choir, serving as a deacon, teaching Bible Study and Sunday School from late 1940s till 2014.

That year, at age 90 she moved to be near one of her daughters, Kay Teer and her extended family in Simpsonville, SC. She immediately joined Five Forks Baptist, and became very active in the prayer ministry, Sunday School and was even asked to serve on the Long-Range Planning Committee! She also joined the YMCA taking water aerobics 5 days a week, a habit she had formed in Sanford when she was 70. She loved participating in all the Y and church social events and outings, making lasting friendships.

Always one to enjoy time with family and friends, she loved extended visits with daughter Joan Miller and her husband Frank in Germany, South Korea and various US Army posts where they were stationed; good competitive card games of Shanghai or Hand and Foot (though truth be told, she was often impatient and absolutely loved winning); times at the North Litchfield Beach cottage she, Kay and Stewart built in 1973; planting and tending flowers; decorating (and vacuuming) her home; and reading and sharing her faith. A pilgrimage to Israel with Joan and Hansi Ministries was a dream come true.

Towards the end of COVID in May 2021, she decided to move from her “doll house”, as she referred to her lovely condo with its flower gardens she tenderly nurtured, to The Springs at Simpsonville, an assisted living home. There she formed more friendships with residents and staff and always warmly welcomed potential residents telling them they would become friends and they did! She was genuinely blessed and was a blessing in her final community.

Kathrine is survived by her daughters Kay Teer (Stewart) of Simpsonville, SC and Joan Miller (Frank) of Evans, GA; her grandson John Teer (Laura) of Greenville; granddaughter Marguerite Moore (Kenneth) of Greer; great grandsons Graham Moore (Cindy) of Mt. Pleasant; Daniel Moore of Greer; Mitchell Teer of Charleston and William Teer of Clemson; sister, Ann Watkins of Newport News, VA; many nieces and nephews and their children across several states. Carol Stafford who preceded her in death was like a daughter tenderly caring for her even during COVID. Theirs was a special bond.

The family gratefully acknowledges her dear faithful friends who visited, brought gifts, called, and sent cards up until her death. Special appreciation is extended to the staff at The Springs of Simpsonville and Compassus Hospice Care.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings Janie Langley, Mabel Olive, Helen Sasser, William Henry Wheeless, Jr., Theodore Wheeless, and Truett Wheeless. The siblings who died in infancy were Clifford, twins Eula and Mary, twins Lynn and Glenn, and Julian. What a heavenly reunion her family must be having!

A celebration of life will be held at the Five Forks Baptist Church, 112 Batesville Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29681 on Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 AM, with visitation from 10:00 to 10:45 in the sanctuary. Friends are welcome to visit the family at her daughter Kay’s home at other times. Kathrine will be laid to rest beside her husband at Buffalo Cemetery in Sanford, NC on May 9, 2026 at 10:30am.Her legacy is her family, faith and friends; many warm, inspiring and humorous antidotes will carry her memory forward.

Online condolences may be sent to thepalmettomortuarysc.com or rogerspickard.com  

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Five Forks Baptist Church, 112 Batesville Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29681

Palmetto Mortuary & Cremation Services in Greenville SC and Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home in Sanford, NC will oversee arrangements.