Katherine H. Gordon, a retired retail advertising copywriter, died Wednesday at Glen Meadows Retirement Community in Glen Arm of complications from a stroke. She was 87.

Katherine Haller was born and raised in Frederick and was a graduate of the Frederick Academy of the Visitation. After attending Hood College, she went to work during the early years of World War II for the U.S. Maritime Commission in Washington.

She was married in 1942 to Michael S. Gordon Sr., president and owner of Michael Gordon Air Passage Equipment Inc. He died in 1989.

Mrs. Gordon, who was known as "Kitty," worked for many years as a retail advertising copy writer for Giant Food and for Lansburgh's department store in Washington, from which she retired in 1985.

An avid beachgoer, Mrs. Gordon spent summers at Cape May and lived there between 1985 and 1995 before moving to the Glen Arm retirement community.

Mrs. Gordon attended St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Hydes, where a memorial Mass was offered Saturday. A second memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the chapel at Glen Meadows, 11630 Glen Arm Road.

She is survived by a son, Michael S. Gordon Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; two daughters, Patricia G. Rath of Fallston and Amanda L. Gordon of Kensington; and three granddaughters.