Longtime Professor Katherine Rader Dies

Article Date

November 2, 2005

Dr. Katherine Rader, who taught for the OBU English department from 1944-67, died Saturday, October 15. She was 90.

Rader began her teaching career at Northwestern State College in Alva, Okla., where she was assistant professor of English from 1940-44. In 1944 she left Alva to join the OBU faculty where she served for the next 28 years.

During that time, Rader was chairman of the freshman English program, chairman of the English department, and chairman of the languages and literature division. She received OBU's Professor of the Year Award for the 1961-62 school year, indicating the respect she had gained from both faculty and students.

The OBU yearbook Yahnseh was dedicated to Rader in 1962 "with love and admiration from her students."

A native of Norman, Okla., Rader was born Feb. 25, 1915, the only child of Mary Francis and Jessie Lee Rader. After graduating from Norman High School, Rader continued her education at the University of Oklahoma earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1936, a master of arts degree in 1940, and a doctor of philosophy degree in 1951.

Funeral services were Wednesday, October 19, at Guardian Norman Funeral Home.