Kathleen Dunnock (Dunnock) Willey

Kathleen Dunnock Willey, 83, passed away on July 24, 2015 at Collingswood Nursing Center in Rockville, Maryland. She was born in Cambridge, Maryland on April 1, 1932, the daughter of Mildred Dunnock Menk and Reginald Dunnock. Kathleen graduated from Cambridge High School in 1949 and, on June 21st of that year, married Thomas B. Willey. She live most of her life on the Eastern Shore, in Cambridge and Mardela Springs. Kathleen was a devoted spouse and a beloved mother.

Kathleen was a traditional homemaker; she enjoyed home decorating, refinishing antique furniture, cooking and entertaining, dancing, and traveling. When her children were young, she was active as a home room mother and in organizations including Cub Scouts, Little League, and 4-H.

Mrs. Willey was closely associated with her husband in union and political activities from 1950until his retirement in 1986. She worked diligently on state and national political campaigns; during the 1950s, she was the director of COPE [Committee on Political Education] on the Eastern Shore. She assisted her husband on successful union organizing campaigns in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky including the organization of workers at Connelly Containers in Cambridge and Bird’s Eye Frozen Foods [Electrical Maintenance] in Exmore, Virginia. She had a close association with the IBEW-IO Retired Employees Club and the National Capital Area Trade Union Retirees Club.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 66 years, Thomas B. Willey; her son, Thomas Gregory Willey of Silver Spring, MD; her daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia W. and Alan B. Langrall of Normal, IL; and her grandson Martin E. Langrall of Chicago, IL.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge. Family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:00. Interment will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Montgomery Hospice (montgomeryhospice.org).