Dr. Katharine Francis (Mitchell) Busch, 94, of Frankfort, Ind., passed away March 1, 2024 in her home.  She was born on July 19, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri to John Morton and Katharine (McGillivary) Mitchell.  She married Roy Henry Busch on May 21, 1949 in St. Louis and he preceded her in death on August 31, 1999.

Katharine was a 1947 Graduate of Cleveland High School in St. Louis, earned her BS in Elementary Education in 1971 from IU Kokomo, earned her MS in Elementary Education in 1973 from IU Bloomington, earned her EDS in 1979 in Education from IU Bloomington, earned her EDD in 1986 from IU Bloomington, and finally, she earned her BA in English in 2014 from Cal State San Bernadino at the age of 85.  She taught at Daniel Webster Elementary in Logansport for 9 years and was Professor of Literacy and Language Education at Cal State San Bernadino.  Katharine enjoyed learning and going to school.  She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma – Gamma Mu Logansport Chapter, 2 term president of Epsilon Tau San Bernadino.  She was a former member of American Chapter of Eastern Star in St. Louis and was director of Calvary Presbyterian Church Children’s Choir in Logansport for many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Katharine’s honor to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, North Hampton, MA 01061-0515.

Visitation and Services

A Memorial Celebration of Katharine’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Archer-Weston Funeral & Cremation Center, 501 East Clinton Street, Frankfort.  Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Survived by:

Surviving are her Son: Thomas Andrew (Dianna) Busch of Frankfort; Daughter: Theresa Louise (Charles) Brogan of New Ross; Grandchildren: Brandy (Jason) Strode, Andrea (Oliver) Jones, Colt Mitchell Weeks, Alice Katharine Brogan, Paige Kennedy Brogan, Wesley Brogan, and Ashley Brogan Alfreny.  

Preceded by:

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter: Katharine McGillivary Busch-Weeks, 2 brothers: John Morton Mitchell Jr. and James Farrell Mitchell, and a sister: Grace Isabelle Vehlewald.