Katherine "Katie" France

Katherine J. “Katie” France, age 79, of Dover, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, while in the care of Community Hospice’s Truman House at New Philadelphia, on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

Born in Union Hospital at Dover on July 16, 1944, Katie was a daughter of the late Fred and Kate Kaiser Wilson.

Katie was a 1962 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and at a young age began working for Buehler’s Fresh Foods and was employed as a head cashier and trainer prior to her first retirement. She later joined the former Cornerstone Support Services and worked with them for 15 years prior to her second retirement.

Katie was a member of the New Philadelphia Church of the Nazarene. She had a lifelong love of music, board games, and card playing. One particular card club she played with met consecutively for more than six decades. She was also an avid animal lover and never turned down the opportunity to vacation on the ocean and enjoy sitting on the beach. Katie also deeply loved her family and spending time with them, especially her grandchildren.

Katie will be missed by her children, Jody (Joshua Barr) Jeffers and Jim (Mary) Seldenright all of New Philadelphia; her grandchildren, Derek Butcher, Chloe (fiancé, Logan Guinn) Jeffers, PVT 1st Class, Benjamin Jeffers, Joseph (Blake) Fisher, James (Courtney) Seldenright, Jr., Joseph (Kasie) Seldenright, Joshua (Cheyenne) Seldenright, and Katherine “Kassie” Seldenright; as well as 14 great-grandchildren.

Completing the family are her siblings, Rick (Kathy) Wilson, George (Judy) Wilson, Helen (John) Schaar, and Carl (Jackie) Draher, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Katie was preceded in death by her husband, Dominic “Mickey” France, and a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth “Libby” and John Reynolds.

Being respectful of Katie’s wishes, there will be no public visitation or services. The Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia is handling cremation care.

Memorial contributions in Katie’s name may be directed to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, or online at https://www.myhospice.org/options-giving.