Nothing defines southern hospitality better than our resident Kippy P. here at the Groves! Kippy is one of our most warm hearted, loving, funny, and charming residents. It’s not a normal day in the Groves if you don’t see her singing and dancing to Elvis Presley songs, cracking jokes, and sippin’ on an ice-cold glass of Coca Cola!
Katherine, who goes by both Kippy and Kip, was born on September 18, 1930, in Nashville, TN, where she spent most of her younger days horseback riding. Her mother, Lorine, was an intelligent schoolteacher, and her father, Charlie, was a big, gregarious, and fun-loving guy. Kippy’s parents sent her to a public school in Nashville and then to an all-girls high school named Ward Belmont, where she was a hardworking and well-behaved student. She was raised Methodistand enjoyed being a congregant at the Metropolitan Methodist Church in DC.
Kip eventually left Nashville for an adventure at a two-year women’s college named Bradford near Boston, where she had a huge social and dating life! After her father’s heart attack, however, Kippy left Boston and returned to Nashville to support him. During her return, she enrolled at Vanderbilt University to study liberal arts, and met her husband Steve, who was a very handsome and adventurous man. She frequently recalls her first time seeing Steve on the tennis courts, where she instantly fell for him! After their marriage in 1952, Steve continued law school at Vanderbilt, while Kip began her career teaching at a local middle school. Together, they raised three children named Lori, Dek and Stacy. The family moved to Bethesda, MD in 1960 as Steven went to work for his older brother’s Law Firm in D.C.
Kippy takes pride in her warm and loving extended family in Nashville, and also values her social life. It was hard for Kip to leave her family and friends in Nashville, but also exciting! She made many friends while living in Bethesda/Chevy Chase and spent a lot of time playing tennis and socializing. Kip and Steve spent many winter months as snowbirds in Delray Beach, Florida at their condo. Kip always loved the sun and the beach.
Later in life, Kip changed careers from teaching and began working with the federal government as a human resource/trainer for more than 20 years. As a young mom, she also ran a coop nursery school and later lectured at GWU in a program designed to support women going “back to work” after she obtained a master’s degree in counseling.
Kip and Steve had a very happy and successful marriage. Together, they traveled the world for years, and went to every continent except for Antarctica. They were champion travelers throughout their entire lives, and Kip loves to recall all their fabulous trips including taking their grandchildren to Disneyworld, a dude ranch, and on an African safari.
Today, Kippy is an active resident of KP! She is a very proud grandmother of eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She loves keeping up on all their adventures, and loves seeing them on holidays, which has always been a special time for her. Kippy continues to enjoy exercise classes, attending music programs, participating in happy hour games, and socializing with other residents. We are so lucky to have Kippy here with us in
the Groves!