Kathryn Jo Harrison

Kathryn Jo Harrison [Jones], 78, of London, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2026, surrounded by her family at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Born on June 21, 1948, at White Cross Hospital in Columbus, Ohio to Norman Jones and Hortense Jones (Shivler). She was the youngest of 6 children. Kathryn (Kathy) grew up in London, Ohio and graduated from London High School in 1966. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, mother and father in laws Gladys and Oscar Harrison, sister Chere Grove, and five brother in laws (Ronald Harrison, William Grove, Richard Dunkle, Daniel Snell and Richard Minner).

She entered the workforce after high school in London as a phone operator at Madison County Hospital and then was employed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). She also worked in the Probate Court of Madison County.

On October 3, 1969, she married the love of her life, Lawrence Lee Harrison at the London First United Methodist Church. Together they built a life in London where they raised 3 children and shared 57 years of marriage. There was seldom a time Kathy would be without Larry. They were always seen at various restaurants and diners in town and had many friends in the London Community. They also frequented the London Public Library as she was an avid reader. Kathy and Larry worked side by side most of their married life and owned and operated businesses together. Their first business was the London Dairy Bar on Center Street. They then worked to obtain their insurance sales licenses and were the owners and operators of Oak Run Insurance Agency where they insured many Madison County residents and their properties. They briefly moved to Virginia Beach, VA, where they owned and operated a family pizza parlor. Upon moving back to London, they worked together at Smith Purdum Insurance in Columbus, Ohio. After retiring, Kathy still worked part-time and cleaned the London First United Methodist Church and then worked for AVI at Stanley Industries. She loved to visit with all her “regulars” at Stanley.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband Lawrence Harrison and three children that truly adored her, John Harrison, Edward Harrison, and Anna Cover (David Cover), all of London, Ohio. She is also survived by her siblings, Cary (Bud) Jones, Sue Minner, Norma Dunkle, and Carolyn Snell and three grandchildren she deeply loved, Patrick Harrison (Colorado), Vincent Cover and Josie Cover (London, Ohio). You would often know Kathy was in the stands at sporting events and school functions as she was always passionately rooting for her grandchildren and was extremely proud of all their achievements and hard work. She also has many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

Kathy had a very deep and strong faith and had been a member of the London First United Methodist Church and participated in the choir along side many in her family. She then fell in love with the Catholic faith after taking classes for two years at Ohio Dominican College for theology studies and converted to Catholicism in 1986 at St. Patrick Church. She was a devout Catholic and took great solace in weekly Mass and participated in the church choir for many years.

She was often found in the kitchen baking up a perfect pie to share and was well known for her homemade cinnamon rolls and beef and noodles. She was an excellent cook and was the heart of her family. Kathy loved all animals, but especially her many horses over the years. She made many friends in the London horse community and enjoyed nothing more than being at the barn taking care of her animals.

All are welcome to attend the Memorial Mass celebrating Kathryn’s life on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Church in London, Ohio. There will be an immediate luncheon served after Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to St. Patrick Church of London, Ohio.