William Cath

William Stanwood “Stan” Cath was born on March 29, 1928, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 ½ years Mary Ellen; sister, Priscilla; brother, Fenton; mother, Pauline and father, Clarence; and nephew, David.

He is survived by sons, Jeffrey, Ian and wife Peggy; Kenton, and wife Samantha; grandchildren, Sara and husband Safi, Jenna, Nicholas, Cameron and wife Mary, Jarrod, and Scott; cherished great-grandchildren, Sonia, Scarlett, Jaxson, Lily, Virginia, and Daniel; nieces, Courtney, Nancy, Patricia, and nephews, Robert, Lon, Van, Steven and Timothy.

Stan entered military service in 1946 as part of the army of occupation in Japan, China and Guam with the Army Air-Corp. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in 1948. He attended Michigan State College and received a B.S. in Zoology in 1951 and a M.S. in Entomology in 1953. After graduation, Stan started his career with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and continued in a variety of capacities within the agricultural administrative field. He retired as the Executive Director of the Agricultural Research Institute. Having moved to Mathews County, he immersed himself in numerous activities such as a member and past president of the Mathews Lions Club and the West Mathews Community League. He was also a member of the Mathews Maritime Foundation, Mathews Historical Society and the Tidewater Oyster Growers Association (master oyster grower). He was an avid gardener and wood worker, and as an active vendor at the Mathews Market Days for over 23 years, provided the community produce and bamboo goods.

Stan was appreciative for the warm welcome that he and Mary Ellen received from the local community and how they felt to be part of it. They met and made numerous true friends and thoroughly enjoyed their time in Mathews.

“Love and care for each other, that was all your mother and I hoped for. We loved you all sincerely. Goodbye, your loving dad, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. Stan”.

The family will receive friends from 2 – 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, 160 Main Street, Mathews, Virginia. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Mathews Lions Charity Foundation, P.O. Box 1241, Mathews, Virginia 23109.