Catharine Jeannette Hull of Martinsburg, WV, passed away on September 2nd, 2024 in her Martinsburg home. She was 78 years old.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Jack; by her parents, Ethel Jean and James Myron Crawford; her mother-in-law, Julia Thomas Hovermale of Sharpsburg, MD, and brother-in-law, Gary Clyde Hull Sr. of Sharpsburg, MD.

She is survived by her daughter, Daphne, son-in-law Robert, and grandson Benjamin Pallozzi, all of Ellicott City, Maryland; a sister-in-law, Kathy; and nephew Gary Clyde Hull Jr. (Catherine) of Sharpsburg, Maryland, along with their children.

Cathy was born just outside of London, England in 1945. Her mother was British and her father was from Martinsburg. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was serving in the US Army in England when they met during WWII. The young family moved to the US, but Cathy’s father passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest when Cathy was four years old. Cathy and her mother made do, moving back to England at one point, but eventually returned to Martinsburg for good. Crossing the Atlantic twice, they traveled on both the Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mary.

Cathy was incredibly gifted intellectually and academically. There was not a single topic or subject that she could not master if she put her mind to it. Her love of learning extended throughout her life, and she practiced every day until her final weeks. Cathy taught herself subjects as diverse as languages (Greek, Hebrew, French), science (Physics and beyond), high levels of math, fundmentals of business principles, chess, history, philosophy, and any other subject that piqued her interest. Cathy did not simply read books on these topics; but rather, she studied them, took copious notes, solved complex equations and problems at increasingly challenging levels, continually developing her own brain and competencies. There are no words adequate enough to convey how absolutely and remarkably brilliant she was.

Cathy attended Martinsburg Senior High School, but opted to drop out and obtain her GED. She enrolled at Shepherd College, earning her Bachelors degree and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1968. She was the first person in her family line to graduate from college. Cathy also earned the distinction of McMurran Scholar, the highest academic award offered by the college. Cathy met her husband, Jack Hull, during her time at Shepherd. She wrote for the college newspaper, The Picket, and was their theatre critic, among other assignments. She majored in English.

Cathy and Jack married in 1968 and settled in Martinsburg, WV, welcoming their only child, Daphne, in the summer of 1969. In 1970, they purchased what would become their forever home, a lovely brick Victorian that they adored.

Cathy valued the arts, particularly literature, classical music, ballet, opera, and theatre. She and her husband ensured that exposure to the arts and reading books every day was a priority in raising their daughter. As a new mother in the early seventies, through both words and actions, Cathy taught her daughter to accept and value people of all races and ethnicities as equals.

Cathy was extremely shy, and found making friends or mixing in casual conversa-tions challenging, and sometimes painful. She was much more comfortable getting to know people one or two at a time in private settings. She was welcoming and gracious to the friends her daughter made in the neighborhood – one at a time. One young man loved her English pancakes, so he was invited several times to come have breakfast on a Saturday morning. Another neighborhood boy wanted to join the service, so she spent many hours over weeks tutoring him in preparation for the ASVAB. Her favorite neighborhood friend was a boy named David Files, who had an open invitation to come to our home whenever and however often he liked. Bill Nixon was another favorite, and she enjoyed his company very much.

Cathy earned a license in Social Work, and worked for the West Virginia Depart-ment of Human Services for five years until 1973, when she left her job in order to stay home and raise her daughter. She returned to the field in 1985 and worked for a number of years until she retired.

Cathy was a longtime and active member of the Great Books Club, which included esteemed local luminaries such as the late Gene Snyder and Lorraine Gutsell. Cathy was extremely well read, and enjoyed the stimulating discussions and spirited debates during their group meetings.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service for both Cathy and her late husband, Jack, on Saturday, Decem-ber 28th, 2024 at 10 am at the Apollo Civic Theatre, 128 East Martin Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401. Please arrive by 9:45 if possible.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation in their memory to the Apollo Civic Theatre, c/o Aubrey Ervin, PO Box 3120, Martinsburg, WV 25401, marked “In Memory of Jack T. and Catharine J. Hull.” The family and the Apollo Theatre appreciate your gift.