Remembering Catherine Nancy Pabst: A Life of Faith, Family, and Community
Table of Contents
Catherine Nancy (Arnold) Pabst, 86, of Baldwin, Maryland, passed away peacefully in her home on January 4, 2026, following a brief illness. her life was a testament to faith, family, and a deep connection to her community.
Early Life and Family Roots
Born on October 17, 1939, on her family’s dairy farm in street, Maryland, Catherine was the daughter of Allen william and Helen Frances (Daughton) Arnold. Her father, A.W. Arnold, originally from North Carolina, moved to Maryland in the 1920s after working in the West Virginia mines. Her mother, Helen, was a lifelong resident of Harford County, Maryland. Both families had strong agricultural traditions, shaping Catherine’s early life with the values of hard work and connection to the land. She fondly remembered gathering eggs and assisting with farm chores alongside her parents.
Education and Career
Catherine graduated from North Harford High School in 1957 and furthered her education at Strayer Business College, gaining skills in secretarial science.She embarked on a career that included positions at the Colonel MacPhail horse farm and Preferred Finance in Bel Air, Maryland.Around 1963, she joined Alex Brown & Sons in Baltimore as a legal underwriting executive secretary, a role she held until 1967 when she chose to focus on raising her family.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1958, Catherine married Robert (“Bob”) L.Pabst at Highland Presbyterian Church in Street, Maryland.They shared nearly 58 years of devoted companionship until Bob’s passing in 2016. Catherine and Bob built a life centered around family, and she dedicated herself to creating a loving home. She also provided care for both of her parents during their later years.
Hobbies and Passions
Catherine was a woman of many talents and interests. A skilled homemaker, she enjoyed sewing, decorating, cooking, and baking. during the 1970s and 80s, she pursued her passion for floristry, creating dried flower arrangements for friends and family. She also ran a triumphant homemade jam and jelly business for several decades, retiring around the age of 80 due to health challenges. She and Bob shared a love of music and dance, actively participating in square and round dancing clubs, even serving as co-presidents of B&R Rounds.
Faith and Community Involvement
A woman of deep Christian faith, Catherine was a long-time member of Chestnut Grove presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Maryland, since 1972. She served as a deacon for seven years, actively involved in communion services and visiting the sick. She also shared her faith by teaching Sunday school alongside her husband for many years and participating in church suppers.
Later Years and Legacy
Despite facing health challenges, including spinal degeneration and limited mobility in her later years, Catherine remained mentally sharp and cherished her relationships.She was deeply loved by her son, Brian R. Pabst, with whom she resided in Baldwin, maryland, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, and her three brothers: Howard W.,Harold H., and Marshall Lee Arnold.
Funeral Arrangements
Friends and relatives are invited to a viewing at the Schimunek Funeral Home, 610 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air, Maryland, on Wednesday, January 7th, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, January 8th, at 11:00 am, with interment to follow at bel Air Memorial Gardens. Nephews will serve as pallbearers.