Fauquier Health honors art wall artist

A great photo of Kathleen Willingham, provided by her daughter Sarah Keplinger.

Kathleen Willingham, a local native, was born on May 30, 1946, in Warrenton, VA. She resided in Bealeton, VA. Not only was Kathleen well-known by the staff members at the hospital, she was well-known through her artwork.

In 2019, Kathleen was diagnosed with cancer. As a patient of Dr. Raj Pal Manchandani, Hematology/Oncology, the Fauquier Health infusion team had the opportunity to know Kathleen. She built a relationship with nearly every person she came into contact with. According to Sarah Cubbage, hospital spokeswoman, “I had the joy of working briefly with Kathleen. She was a repeat artist who displayed her work on our hospital’s art wall for all to see. Kathleen’s artwork brought joy to our hospital’s staff during the tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Often times I would take a pause in the hallway to view her artwork. It brought a moment of peace during a stressful period.”

On July 28, 2020, the staff of Fauquier Health was saddened to hear the news of Kathleen’s passing. The Fauquier Health infusion team provided a heart-felt testament regarding their time caring for Kathleen:

We, the Infusion center, had the humble privilege of being a part of her journey. Through that, we had the pleasure of learning of her life-long devotion to art. Her work reflects a versatility with mediums and a keen eye for interpretation from mind to canvas. She has been a teacher and active participant in the arts as a life-long learner. It is clear that the arts were her passion, and we are honored that we had the opportunity to care for her as a patient, and now care for a piece of her legacy with “Connections:  JOY and happiness in having family bonds and connections with the many differences yet likenesses that are caused by biological links.”

Kathleen’s art wall collection – each piece has its own story.

After numerous conversations with Kathleen’s beloved daughter, Fauquier Health wished to commemorate Kathleen Willingham’s memory by purchasing a beautiful canvas titled, “Connections.” This canvas will have a permanent home at the Fauquier Health Center for Cancer Care.

The chosen piece by the Infusion Staff team that will be housed in the Fauquier Health Center for Cancer Care. Kathleen will always be a part of the Fauquier Health family.

Other pieces of artwork from Kathleen are still available for purchase and can be found on her website, or Facebook page.

About Fauquier Health

Fauquier Health is a community health system dedicated to high-quality, patient-centered care in a unique environment that considers the multiple facets of healing and respects the individuality of each and every patient. Located at 500 Hospital Drive in Warrenton, Virginia, Fauquier Health serves the residents of Fauquier and several surrounding counties. It comprises: Fauquier Hospital, a fully-accredited, 97-bed hospital; Fauquier Health Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, a 113-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility; the Villa at Suffield Meadows, an assisted living facility; the Wound Health Center and a medically supervised Wellness Center offering health and wellness programs.  Fauquier Health also operates nine physician’s offices, including primary care and specialties. More information on Fauquier Health is available online at FauquierHealth.org or by calling 540-316-5000.