Katherine "Kathy" McGough
July 14, 1933 ~ February 20, 2026
Born in:
Shirikishina-Mura, Hokkaido, Japan
Resided in:
McLean, Virginia
Katherine Kyoko (Kathy) McGough, 92, passed away on Friday, February 20 2026 at the Walter Reed National Military Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. She was born on July 14, 1933 in Shirikishina-Mura, Hokkaido, Japan the daughter of the late Shukichi and Moto Tateyama. Kathy was the last surviving member of
her immediate family. Kathy is survived by her husband of 65 years, Billie McGough of McLean, VA, daughter Teri Tankersley (David) of Villa Park, Illinois, son John McGough (Lan) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, three grandchildren, Daniel Carr (Lindsey) of Montgomery Illinois, Denise Carr of Glendale Heights, Illinois, and Jessika McGough of Fredericksburg, Virginia, two great grand children Maren and Greta Carr of Montgomery, Illinois, and two step-grandsons, Carl Tankersley of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Joshua Tankersley of Bellingham, Washington. Kathy graduated from the Otani Girls High School in Hakodate where she learned to play basketball. She met her husband Bill in the Wakanai Air Force Station Base Security Office in June 1960. They were married in the American Consulate at Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan on June 19, 1961.
She was a military wife for 28 years, raised two children, managed her household through Bill’s rotating shifts, short tour assignments, deployments and temporary duty assignments. She moved her household from Texas to Hawaii, served on the base commissary committee at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas. Then moved back to Texas where her husband was mostly absent on temporary duty assignments. During her time in Brussels, Belgium she was a Member of the Department of Defense Wives Club. She enjoyed touring London with the members of the club and enjoyed her two week stay in Spain with friends. At the end of Bill’s final assignment, she moved her household from Omaha, Nebraska to Falls Church, Virginia. She has been a member of Okinawa Kai of Washington for 35 years but for the past several years has been inactive. Kathy was outgoing with a happy personality. She never met a stranger, loved babies, bowling, bingo, karaoke, origami and her friends, but mostly she loved her family.
Services
Memorial Service: March 2, 2026 2:00 pm
Money and King Funeral Home
171 Maple Ave. W
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
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Bob Gallagher
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There was always this sweet older woman, Kathy, who would come to play.
She was always smiling, kind, and just one of those steady presences you grow used to seeing.
Years ago — maybe 8–10 — I was having breakfast at The Virginian Restaurant with a friend who was visiting from out of town.
When I went up to pay, Epione (the owner at the time, before Manny) pointed to a woman sitting alone in the corner and said, “She paid for you.”
I was shocked. I walked over and asked her why she would do that.
She smiled and said, “You’re always volunteering and helping. I wanted to surprise you as a thank you.”
She was eating breakfast alone before her doctor’s appointment & wanted to surprise me.
I’ve never forgotten that moment.
It wasn’t about the breakfast. It was about being seen. About someone noticing quiet service and choosing kindness in return.
I just received word that Kathy has passed away.
Rest in peace, dear Kathy. 🤍
It’s the kindness of people like you who helped shape me into the person I try to be. Not perfect — but always trying to be kind.
Ms. Kathy always had a candy ready for my boys when they visited the bingo hall at Dunn Loring. When they weren’t there, she’d ask about them and wanted to know what they were up to. She watched me get married and have both of my boys in my almost 20 years at the station. Her seat at bingo will always remind me and my boys of what happiness, generosity, and kindness look like. It was such a blessing to know her.
A matriarch in the Bingo family
Your strength and smile and kindness will be missed
My condolences to her husband Bill, Children and Grandchildren. Kathy was a wonderful lady! I had the pleasure serving her many times in my restaurant (The Virginian).
May she rest in Peace!
Even though our paths only crossed a handful of times, her sweetness was unmistakable. She had a way of making you feel truly seen and remembered. It was a beautiful, humbling thing to know that we were in her thoughts; she held a place for me and my family in her heart, always wishing us well with a genuine spirit that felt like a blessing.
Bill, our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. May our Lord Jesus Christ grant perpetual light, rest and peace to the soul of our dear friend, Kathy! Kathy thank you for your friendship all these years. You are truly a remarkable friend! We will miss you! Lorna and Ric Franco