Kathryne Karraker Hitchen

Kathryne Karraker Hitchen, 94, of Juniata Born January 16, 1920. Passed away peacefully on Friday, April 18, 2014, with her daughter Lisa at her side at UPMC Shadyside, Pittsburgh from complications of pneumonia. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late John and Mae (Ritchey) Porter. She married Melvin E. Karraker on January 15, 1944, in Dongola, IL, who preceded her in death on September 25, 1969. On April 12, 1982, she married Harry S. Hitchen of Altoona. Mr. Hitchen died on January 8, 1985. Surviving are her daughter Lisa Karraker of Pittsburgh, her son Greg Karraker and his wife Kathryn Wickstrom Karraker of Cotati, CA, her stepchildren and spouses Ann and Joe Lingenfelter of Mifflinburg, PA, Karen and Don Dickey of Hanover Park, IL, her niece Gayle Orberg of Reno, NV, and her niece Jo-Ann Jones and her husband John of Apopka, FL. After graduating from Altoona High School in 1937, she earned a BA in Music from Sherwood Music School, she taught music to high school students in Illinois and Kentucky during the last years of WWII. She also sang with Peter Duchin's orchestra for a brief period. But Kathryne is best remembered as an unselfish giver. Settling in Juniata in 1945, she taught piano and voice students in her home for nearly seven decades, giving her last lesson to an adult student less than a month ago. Literally thousands of students' lives were enriched by the musical talent she shared with them. One of her better-known students is Mike Reid, who built a successful career as a songwriter after retiring from the Cincinnati Bengals. For nearly 40 years, she sang in the choir of Trinity Lutheran Church, Juniata, and acted as Choir Director for a period of time. She then served as Music Director of Asbury United Methodist Church, retiring in 2011. She helped deliver Meals on Wheels from the time she was 50 till she was nearly 85, when most people her age would have been receiving meals, instead of delivering them. Because of her dedication to the Altoona community, on her 90th birthday, Kathryne was presented with a proclamation honoring her by then-Mayor William Shirf. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday, April 22 at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, 719 N 4th Avenue, Altoona. Funeral service will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, April 23 at Asbury United Methodist Church, 107 Asbury Lane, Altoona, officiated by Linda Williams. Interment at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Altoona Food Bank, 2100 6th Avenue, Altoona PA, 16602