Kathryn Sperduto Hire, 80, a native of Mobile and a resident of Orange Beach for more than 20 years, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 in Atlanta from complications of a stroke.
After graduation from Murphy High School, she was employed as a draftsman by Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad. She was among the first women to work in the traditionally male surveying and engineering career fields while raising a family. Advancing her way up to senior engineering technician, she eventually became co-owner of Hire Surveying.
She and her husband, Robert E. Hire, were founding members of St. Thomas By The Sea Catholic Church in Orange Beach. She served on the church building committee, as a Eucharistic minister, and hel other roles.
A member of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, American Business Women’s Association, Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors, SCORE and other civic organizations, she was passionate about promoting leadership roles for women in business.
She loved life on the water at Orange Beach and regularly entertained friends and family. She enjoyed cooking and was well known for her award-winning seafood gumbo. She and her husband enjoyed a fun life of boating, fishing, shrimping and water recreation.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Hire, in 1995; and a daughter, Barbara A. Hire, in 1980.
Survivors include two daughter, Becky Hire of Atlanta and Kay Hire of Houston; sister, Marie Elbrecht of Austin, Texas; nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Funeral services were held at St. Thomas By The Sea Catholic Church in Orange Beach. Interment was at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St. thomas By The Sea, Kathryn S. Hire Memorial, P.O. Box 1190, Orange Beach, AL 36561.
Arrangements were made by Trahan Family Funeral Home, Pensacola, Fla.
