Kathleen (Kathy) Thompson

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Kathy Thompson

Kathleen (Kathy) Thompson died Monday, December 15, 2025, after a battle with ALS. Born December 24, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to the late Richard J. Baker and Elizabeth J. (Steffler) Baker, Kathy and family moved to Coshocton from Pittsburgh when she was four months old. A 1966 graduate of Coshocton High School, she graduated cum laude, with a degree in history and journalism from Miami University in 1970. She was awarded Phi Beta Kappa honors.

In the early 1970’s, Kathy served as editor of the Ohio Pharmacist magazine in Columbus. In 1974 she returned to Coshocton to raise her family and did freelance writing and public relations for several years from home. In 1989, an article she wrote was published in both Cosmopolitan and Cosmopolitan International magazines.

She also worked as a legal assistant at the law firm of Leech, Scherbel & Peddicord, and in 1996 was named executive director of the United Way of Coshocton County, where she led three consecutive record-breaking campaigns. In 1999 she was named Coshocton County Commissioner, a seat to which she was then elected in 2000 and 2004. Her terms of office saw the completion of the North Corridor infrastructure project and the opening of the Coshocton Campus.

In 2007, she accepted the position of executive director of the Coshocton Foundation, retiring in 2015. Under her leadership the Foundation grew in donors, assets and number of restricted funds.Following retirement, she remained active as a Trustee of the Coshocton Foundation, as well as serving as senior warden and treasurer of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Kathy’s other community activities included numerous boards and community organizations. She was a 1994 graduate of Leadership Coshocton County of the Coshocton Foundation, where she served on the Distribution Committee in the late 1990’s. She was a Trustee of the Clary Gardens Foundation, was president of the Coshocton Rotary Club from 2010-11, and was the first woman to serve on the Coshocton County Regional Airport Authority, where she was instrumental in obtaining the funding for the new terminal building and the runway extension. She also served as a member of the Convention & Visitors’ Bureau board, Coshocton Campus Advisory Board, Family & Children First Council, Friends of the Parks and the Footlight Players, where she appeared onstage in 11 productions.Kathy was named 2016 Coshoctonian by the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce. She also was the recipient of the Chamber's Community Improvement Award and was a winner of the YWCA/BPW Tribute to Women of Achievement Award.

Always active at Trinity Episcopal Church, she served on the Altar Guild, as a Chalice Bearer, several terms on Vestry, and was substitute organist for a short time prior to 2011. She was also on the Investment Committee of the church. She served as Co-Senior Warden of the church and Treasurer of the church almost until her death.

Kathy took piano lessons for 12 years, six of those from Harold Stevenson. About 9 years into the lessons, she learned to her delight that she could play by ear, that is, she could hear a song and then play it. She called it “a gift from God,” not anything from training. or lessons. She played what she called “cocktail piano” for many groups through the years.

Kathy is survived by her husband Scott, whom she married on March 29, 1986, and two sons, Christopher (Heather) Harrison, of Howell, Michigan, and Andrew (Alexandra) Harrison of Thessaloniki, Greece, and twin granddaughters, Penelope Kathleen and Anna Elizabeth Harrison of Greece. She is also survived by two nieces and two grand-nephews and a grand-niece. She is pre-deceased by her parents Richard and Elizabeth Baker, and her brother Richard “Archie” Baker, Jr.

Calling hours were held at Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The funeral service was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Coshocton on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 1:00 pm. Fr. Rob Morris officiated. Burial followed at South Lawn Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Coshocton Foundation, P.O. Box 55, Coshocton, OH 43812, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Coshocton County Animal Shelter.

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