Portia Hathaway, born May 27, 1926, at Kingman, passed away at her home on Oct. 17, 2023. A lifelong resident of southern Fountain County, she lived first on Hwy 41 and later in her Hibbs Road home, which she and her husband Richard Lee Hathaway built after they married on Dec. 31, 1943. Richard preceded her in death Jan. 17, 2003. Portia was the last remaining of her siblings and lived to the age of 97, supporting herself, her farm, her forest friends, and her pets.
Yes, she still drove and was proud of that fact! As a very independent woman, she liked to do things for herself, and instead of curtailing what she did, her family accepted that this was just who she was. She said the key was to never give up and to keep doing. Never having children of her own, she loved all of her nieces and nephews like her own, and later loved their children and even the children’s children. Her refrigerator pictures and Christmas cards could attest to her love of others, whether it be family or neighbors, or members of the Kingman Class of 1944 or the West Liberty Church.
She enjoyed traveling to the beach in Maine, in Florida, and along the California coastline seeing the Redwood forests. She was always a steward for the forest and all living things. Having owned virgin walnut groves, she treasured what time and care could do for a forest, and worked with the state forestry to manage hers. She and Richard had cattle early on and the latter years she settled on wanting to see Herefords in the pasture. Watching out her living room picture window was a delight: foraging deer at dawn and dusk, turkey parades, and bald eagles overhead. She owned property adjoining Coal Creek and the Wabash Erie Canal and enjoyed berry picking and mushrooming, right up until 2023!
She was a champion of keeping things for next generations, she preserved homes, barns, buggy and coal sheds, and mostly she preserved memories and stories. She loved animals, wild or domestic, and spent her last years with Minnie, a very overweight and loved chihuahua who was by her side when she passed and remained there. The last few years she even added an insulated, heated playhouse for her outside cats.
Portia was preceded in death by her parents, Lemuel and Velva Moore Pithoud; husband Richard Lee Hathaway; siblings, Elisha (Helen) Pithoud, Henry (Kathleen) Pithoud, Margaret Anna Belle Buser (Britton) and twin sister, Patricia Lape; nephews, Eric Pithoud, Curtis Pithoud and David Lape; and nieces, Andrea King and Denise Pithoud. She is survived by brother-in-law Jake Lape; nephews, Alan Lape, Steve Pithoud (Cheryl), Jeff Pithoud (Sybil), Jon Buser (Melissa), Randy Pithoud (Wanda) and Lemuel Pithoud; nieces, Anita Myers (Duane), Brenda Oilier, Janie Greber (Randy), Charlene Keen (Rick), Linda Snodgrass and Alesa Pithoud; and many nieces and nephews once and twice removed! She was the most loved woman who never had her own but made everyone’s hers.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at Shelby Funeral Home, 622 Third St., Covington, with Pastor Ken Charleton officiating. Burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation at noon until services at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Memorials requested to West Liberty Christian Church, 2806 W. State Road 32, Covington, IN 47932.
Online condolences may be made at www.shelbyfuneralhome.com.
