Promoted to Glory: Major Kathy Poff
Major Kathy Poff was Promoted to Glory on August 7, 2025. She was 73.
Kathy Yvonne Petty was born in Ashtabula, OH on June 22, 1952, to parents Albert and Helen Petty. While attending Girl Guard Camp at Camp Allegheny in the Western Pennsylvania Division, twelve-year-old Kathy gave her heart to the Lord. She later testified, “That night I prayed and asked Jesus Christ to help me live a good life and to help others come to Him.”
Kathy left her home corps of Corry, PA and entered the Eastern Territory’s training college in 1975 as a member of the Companions of Christ session of cadets. She was commissioned and ordained as a Salvation Army officer in June 1977, with her first appointment as assistant corps officer in Huntingdon, PA.
After marrying Johnny Poff on January 7, 1978, Kathy served the remainder of her career in the Southern Territory. Their corps appointments included: Havre de Grace, MD; Logan, WV; Baltimore (Patterson Park), MD; Charleston (Oakland), WV; Williamson, WV; Benton, AR; Enid, OK; Mountain Home, AR; and Fort Smith, AR. The Majors Poff retired from active service on July 1, 2018.
Major Kathy and her family received the devastating news of her cancer diagnosis only ten days before her Promotion to Glory. A return trip to the emergency room revealed how aggressive the cancer was—already tripling in size. Following honest conversations with her doctors, she made the decision to enter hospice care.
In her final hours, Major Kathy remained full of peace and faith. She kept saying, “I know where I’m going, and I’m ready to go if He’s ready for me.” She spoke of the many loved ones she would reunite with in Heaven—cherished friends and the three children she never got to meet on this side of Eternity.
Major Kathy Poff is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Major Johnny Poff; one daughter, Anna (Ian) Ray; two sons, Jonathan (Michelle) Poff and Peter Poff; as well as four grandchildren, MacKenzie Ray, Kailyn Ray, Noah Poff, and Issac Poff.
The Celebration of Life Service for Major Kathy Poff is scheduled for Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the Oklahoma City Citadel Corps.