Marcia Ray Klepper's Obituary
Marcia Ray “Kitty” Klepper passed away on November 16, 2023, at 83 years of age. She was born in Jacksonville, FL on October 2, 1940 to Ruth Nelson Bartoo and Elfred G. “Bart” Bartoo, joining her sister, Sally, who is one year older. She was so tiny at birth that the nurses nicknamed her “Kitten,” later shortened to “Kitty,” which became her lifelong nickname. The family moved to Atlanta, GA in 1948, where Kitty was baptized at age 12. She and Sally spent much of their summers at the home of their beloved grandmother, Gran Nelson, in Hendersonville, NC, along with many of their cousins. She remembered those times and her grandmother with fondness. Kitty and Sally would also spend time crewing for their father on his Snipe sailboat, “Yakatoo,” in Lake Allatoona, GA.
Kitty graduated from Northside High School in 1958 and spent two years attending the University of Tennessee, joining the Delta Gamma sorority where she made lifelong friends. She left UT to become an airline hostess for TWA, moving to Redondo Beach, CA, where she met David Rothacher. They married in 1966 and welcomed daughter Tammy Sue in 1969. They moved to Hawaii for 2 years before settling in La Mesa, CA. They were divorced in 1977, and Kitty then moved to Spring Valley, where she lived for most of the rest of her life. She was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church for many years, and it is there that she met Joseph Klepper, the love of her life. Kitty and Joe were married on May 3, 1980, and enjoyed a loving marriage until her death. They cherished spending time with family, visiting the San Diego Zoo, and attending church together (most recently at Shadow Mountain Community Church, where they have been members for the past 14 years). Kitty battled several illnesses over the years, and Joe cared for her faithfully and selflessly. Their love was an inspiration to many.
Kitty loved Jesus with her whole heart: a love that overflowed as she told others about him. She loved her family and friends fiercely and loyally. She doted on her granddaughters Hannah and Taylor, who were her great joy. She loved the ocean, and eating shrimp (especially at her favorite restaurant, Red Lobster). She was humble, loving, and kind, had a ready smile, and was quick to laugh. She was adored by everyone who met her, and she will be dearly missed. Kitty is survived by her beloved husband Joe, daughter Tammy and her husband Anders, granddaughters Hannah and Taylor, sister Sally Martin, nephew Bart and his wife Sherry (children Garrett and Reece), niece Marcia (children Lawson and Lina), and nephew Sam, as well as many other cherished family members and friends.
The Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Friday, December 8 at 10:00AM at Shadow Mountain Community Church, 2100 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA. Live stream will be available at https://memorial.shadowmountain.org. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org).
What’s your fondest memory of Marcia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marcia?
Share a story where Marcia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marcia you’ll never forget.
How did Marcia make you smile?
