Ursula Edith Kolmstetter (nee Walter), formerly of Roanoke, VA, died in Leesburg, VA on December 27, 2023.

Ursula was born in Gottesberg in Silesia, Germany (now in Poland) to Richard and Anna Walter.  She was the youngest of five children and the only girl.  She enjoyed a wonderful childhood in the beautiful town of Gottesberg, hiking, skiing, picking flowers and berries and spending time with family and friends.

In May 1945, at the age of 17, Ursula and her parents fled their home as the Russian army advanced toward Gottesberg.  Along with many others also fleeing the German region of Silesia, Ursula and her parents were taken prisoner by the Russian army and separated from each other.  After being separated from her parents, Ursula was taken to Theresienstadt prison camp, along with hundreds of other German women fleeing Silesia. The only item Ursula had left from her home was part of a chain from her father's pocket watch; she managed to hide the chain during her captivity by keeping it in her mouth or in her shoes.  Ursula managed a daring escape by herself from Theresienstadt in January 1946.    A few months after her escape, Ursula recorded her horrifying experiences on paper and has kept the original copy with her to this day.  Her story will be donated to the Documentation Centre for Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation in Berlin, Germany.

Ursula's father died of starvation in January 1946 as a result of the treatment he received while a prisoner.  The whereabouts of Ursula's mother were never determined and despite the family's attempt to locate her, Anna Walter was never seen again. Anna Walter is presumed to have died in the hands of her captors.  Ursula was able to reunite with her surviving brothers over the next few months and years.

After her escape from Theresienstadt, Ursula was unable to return to her beloved home of Gottesberg.  With the shift of national borders after World War II, Gottesberg was now part of Poland and under Communist control.  At the age of 18, Ursula was a refugee with no place to call home.  As with many German refugees after the war, Ursula found a job and a place to live by moving in with a family in Western Germany to help care for their children and household.  While living with the family, she fell in love with one of the family's relatives, Siegfried Kolmstetter.  Siegfried and Ursula married on September 21, 1952, in Wurzburg, Germany.

A few years after marrying, Ursula and Siegfried immigrated to the United States.  They spent eight years in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Dayton, Ohio.  In 1970, they moved to Roanoke, VA where they enjoyed many happy years with their three children, family pets and many friends.   Ursula was an outstanding cook, baker and seamstress, sharing her talents with neighbors and friends.  She was a very dear and loyal friend to all who knew her. Ursula and Siegfried were members of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and enjoyed the friendship of fellow club members.  They maintained the McAfee Knob section of the Appalachian Trail for many years, as well as volunteering as hike leaders.  Ursula and Siegfried often happily invited AT through hikers into their home for a hot meal, a bed to sleep, and brief respite from many long days on the trail.

Ursula and Siegfried celebrated their Catholic faith with their children as members of St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke.

Ursula was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, wife and friend.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Ursula Kolmstetter was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Dr. Siegfried Kolmstetter.  She is survived by her daughter Dr. Christine Kolmstetter, husband, Frank Pesce, of Las Vegas, NV,; son Michael Kolmstetter, wife Dr. Elizabeth Kolmstetter, children Miles and Nicole Kolmstetter of Arlington, VA; daughter Karen Sayre, husband Stephen Sayre of Leesburg, VA.  She also leaves behind beloved granddogs who brought her much joy - Gracie (Karen and Stephen), Bella (Michael and Elizabeth) and Timber, Tulip and Teddie (Christine and Frank).

The family thanks Dr. Neven Ujevic, Caroline and Celine  for many years of outstanding and compassionate  medical care.  The family also thanks the staff of Spring Arbor, Leesburg for the attentive and gentle care that she received the last few months of her life.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club.