Kathy Wheeler Dobbins
Help us celebrate Kathy! Please share your stories and photos, and invite others who remember Kathy.
Kathryn Wheeler Dobbins, 62, wife of Dr. Thomas Roy Dobbins, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Toccoa, Georgia, she was the daughter of Forrest Wheeler and the late Carol Damron "Toots" Wheeler. Kathy received her bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Appalachian State University and a master's degree from Clemson University. She began her 38 years in education at Anderson School District 5 as a teacher and later as an administrator, where she found her true love and proudest accomplishment in a program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). Kathy's love and devotion for her students and teachers were never questioned by those who knew her. She led by example; she never asked you to do anything she was not willing to do herself. After her retirement from District 5, she taught briefly as an adjunct professor at Anderson University until she accepted the position as principal at Lakeview Middle School in Greenville, where she served until her passing.
Kathy was known by her vivacious personality and always enjoyed making people laugh and helping others. She was the true model of friendship and was loyal to a fault. If you met her, you could not walk away without a Kathy story. She enjoyed spending her free time with family and friends at her two happy places, the beach and her she shed/fire pit with her beloved dog, Jack.
Kathy loved her Lord and her life was a living example of her faith. At every opportunity, she would share her favorite scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6, to encourage and minister to others. She loved her church, Oakdale Baptist, and her family is appreciative of their constant support during this difficult time.
Kathy was a dedicated wife and mother foremost. She treasured and embraced every moment with them. Along with her husband, Tom, of 33 years, she is survived by a cherished son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Taylor Dobbins; father, Forrest Wheeler and wife, Kaye; stepfather, Clark Kurth; aunts, Ruth Damron and Helen Sanders; mother-in-law, Elizabeth M. Dobbins; sister-in-law, Jackie Barker and husband, Joel; brother-in-law, Mac Dobbins; sister-in-law, Barbara L. Dobbins; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her amazing mother," Toots", who was a master at intellect, wit, and etiquette; father-in-law, Jack Dobbins; brother-in-law, Joe Dobbins; and uncle, Ken Sanders.
Kathy will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 27, at Oakdale Baptist Church conducted by Dr. David Blizzard. A private interment will be held at a later date. The service will be live streamed on the Oakdale Baptist Church Facebook page. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday at Sullivan-King Mortuary. The family asks that you wear orange, her favorite color, in her memory. Social distancing will be observed and the family requests that masks be worn.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greenville County Schools Foundation in memory of Kathy Dobbins, P.O. Box 2848, Greenville, SC 29602 or online at greenville.k12.sc.us/gcsf/donations or Oakdale Baptist Church, P.O. Box 127, Townville, SC 29689 or online at obch.com.
Sullivan-King Mortuary
www.sullivanking.com