Mrs. Kathleen E. (West) Hartman, 82, of Marion, PA, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Chambersburg Hospital.
Born October 16, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Carl D. and Jane (Brown) West.
Kathleen was a graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School with the Class of 1963. Over the years, she worked at several area fast-food restaurants before becoming a familiar face in the cafeteria at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School, where she worked as a lunch lady for many years.
She married Jay H. Hartman on July 9, 1983, in Greencastle. They shared 36 years of marriage before his passing on October 18, 2019.
Kathleen was a woman of deep and unwavering faith. Her relationship with the Lord was an important part of her life, and each morning began with time spent reading her Bible. She was a member of Heidelberg Church in Marion and had previously attended First Church of God in Chambersburg. In the early 1990s, Kathleen traveled to Brazil on a mission trip with fellow members of First Church of God, an experience that left her with many treasured memories. One of her favorite stories to share was the time she climbed a banana tree to pick a banana! It was just one of the adventures she enjoyed recounting over the years.
Kathleen had a special place in her heart for children and all of God’s creatures. She especially loved her four-legged companions, sharing her home and heart with several beloved cats and dogs throughout her lifetime. In more recent years, her grand-dogs brought her plenty of companionship and joy.
She also had a lifelong fondness for Dalmatians and built quite a collection celebrating her favorite breed. Her love for the real thing ran even deeper. At one time, she raised Dalmatians and proudly provided several area fire halls with their very own fire dogs, a fitting connection between two things close to her heart. Kathleen was also a lifetime member of the Marion Volunteer Fire Company.
In her younger years, Kathleen enjoyed bowling and was an avid bowler. She was a woman of strong opinions, a sharp wit, and a personality that was entirely her own. Kathleen was never one to sugarcoat her thoughts, and those who knew her best rarely had to wonder where they stood with her! She could be a little surly at times, and her family would lovingly admit that she occasionally seemed happiest when she had something to complain about. But beneath that sometimes-gruff exterior was a woman of steadfast faith, a soft spot for children and animals, and a heart that cared in its own unmistakable way. She was unapologetically herself, and those who loved her wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Kathleen is survived by her son, David Mickey and his wife, Jeri, of Marion; her daughter, Melody Mickey, also of Marion; two grandchildren, Morgan and Kelby; three great-grandchildren; her brother, Richard West and his wife, Sue, of Chambersburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Ronald Mickey, and her second husband, Jay H. Hartman.
A celebration of Kathleen’s life will be held, quite appropriately, on what would have been her 83rd birthday, at 3:00 P.M. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Heidelberg Church, 166 Colorado Street, Marion, PA 17235, with Rev. David Riley officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heidelberg Church, 166 Colorado Street, Marion, PA 17235; the American Cancer Society at cancer.org; or Marion Volunteer Fire Company, 5465 Molly Pitcher Highway South, Chambersburg, PA 17202.
Arrangements are entrusted to Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, Greencastle, PA.
Online condolences may be expressed at bowersoxfuneralhomes.com.
