Katharine (Kramer) Douglas Wilkins, an elegant lady of 97 years, died Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Arden Courts, Easton, PA. A retail store designer, her 37 year career included leading New York design firms Copeland, Novak & Israel and Norwood Oliver Design Associates where she was Senior Vice President. As one of the first women in her field she rose to prominence in her profession, where a mix of elegance and the avant-garde defined her design style and her curiosity and love of diversity described her lifestyle.

Born and reared in Columbus, Nebraska, the daughter of Harold L. and Irma C. (Gottschalk) Kramer, Katharine graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1951 with a bachelor of arts degree in literature. A chance encounter with a friend led to a change in her career choice from publishing to store design. Her subsequent career included work on major stores in New York, London, Paris and Helsinki as well as many department and specialty stores throughout the United States.

In 1985 she started her own business and took on a variety of projects including casinos, cruise ships and retail stores. This endeavor was interrupted when in 1988 she became reacquainted with a high school boyfriend. She and Bob Wilkins were subsequently married and after closing down her business she moved to Bethlehem, PA while retaining her residence in New York City. For the next 20 years they were peripatetic international travelers with a penchant for museums and historic sites.

Survivors: In addition to her husband, Mrs. Wilkins is survived by her daughter, Pamela Douglas Reverman, wife of Brian Reverman, and children Quincy and Colby of Hong Kong; son, Steele F. Douglas and wife Debbie and daughter Anna of San Francisco, CA; stepchildren, Michael Wilkins and wife Marjie of Jacksonville, FL, Suzi Wilkins of Colorado Springs, CO, Sheila Wilkins and husband Kim Kern of Baldwin, KS, Vicki Wilkins and husband Dennis Stolz of Charleston, SC and Chad Wilkins and wife Sue of Minneapolis, MN; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren.

Service: Funeral services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem, PA. Please record a memory at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com.