Candler, Katharine Johnson

Katharine Johnson (Tina) Candler, 94, of Virginia Beach, dedicated teacher and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Wednesday January 24, 2007 at Seaside the Health Center at Atlantic Shores.

Mrs. Candler was one of four children born and raised on Faculty Row on the Virginia Tech campus to the late J.S.A. Johnson, head of the civil engineering department and one-time commandant of the Corps of Cadets and Margaret Smyth Johnson. An avid Virginia Tech football fan, she would “suit up” before each televised game in her Tech warm-ups and proudly display Coach Frank Beamer’s autograph.

Mrs. Candler was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry L. Candler, a retired Appalachian Power Company engineer, whom she met as a coed at Virginia Tech in the early 1930s. She retired from the Roanoke public schools system and moved to Virginia Beach in 1993 to be closer to her growing family.

She was a member of Galilee Sewing Circle, the Edmund Burkley Circle and the Princess Anne Country Club. She was an avid reader and was known for her love and mastery of crossword puzzles, including The New York Times version, which she always completed in ink.

Survivors include two daughters, Margaret C. Reed and her husband William of Virginia Beach and Susan C. Henderson and her husband N. Potter Henderson of Machipongo, Va.; two sons, John S. Candler and wife Linda S. Candler of Brevard, N.C. and Peter R. Candler and wife Page S. Candler of Spartanburg, S.C.; nine grandchildren, Margen Banta and husband Rick, Rick Reed and wife Laurie, Betsy Candler, Kate Williams and husband Barry, Peter Henderson and wife Suzie, Michael Henderson, David Candler and wife Ann, John Candler and Bill Candler and wife Kelly; 11 greatgrandchildren, Preston Banta, Katherine Banta, Jordan Banta, Jett Reed, Summer Reed, Jacqueline Reed, John Landers, Katie Landers, Grace Williams, Conner Henderson and Charlotte Henderson; and seven nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the dedicated employees of Seaside Health Center for their extraordinary care. Her large family and many friends will long and lovingly remember their beloved matriarch, Mama, Tina and “Nonee.” Services and burial will be in Blacksburg, Va. at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23451.

The family will welcome friends at 1005 Brandon Road at a date to be determined. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel is handling arrangements.