Whether she was building friendships through World of Warcraft or cheering on her favorite hockey team, Katharine “Kathy” Lulu Walters was making the most of every moment.

Walters, a Career Center employee whose parents are both university professors, died March 2 after an almost four-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was 46.

Even when doctors had to resort to different procedures and new rounds of chemotherapy, Walters stayed “incredibly upbeat,” said her father, William Walters.

Born in 1966, Katharine Walters graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville and took some courses at this university. She went on to work for phone company Bell Atlantic and, more than 10 years ago, joined the Career Center. The IT data entry operator recently received an award for her service to the school.

William Walters, a chemistry professor, said he was lucky to have his daughter close at hand.

“It was nice to have her on campus,” he said. “I could call her on the phone with just five digits.”

While at work, Katharine Walters’ bright personality brought life to the daily work routine, said Sandra Waldrop, a program management specialist at the alumni center. When the pair first met 12 years ago, Waldrop was going through a divorce and struggling to find new transportation to work — but Walters helped her through the difficult time.

“She stepped in and gave me a ride to and from work every day for three years and wouldn’t take a thing for it,” Waldrop said. “She’s the best friend you could have.”

Walters made sure she touched base with co-workers often and took the time to get to know them, said Linda LeNoir, the Career Center’s assistant director and Walters’ “walking buddy.”

The two would make sure to find each other after work every day for the short journey across the parking lot, LeNoir said.

Even while Walters was undergoing treatment, she remained dedicated to checking in with her co-workers. Stacy Brown, a Career Center senior program director, called Walters in February to chat and instead fielded questions from Walters about a project.

“It was like she was still working,” Brown said. “It speaks volumes to her commitment.”

Outside of work, Walters was passionate about ice hockey and video games. She began skating as a young girl, and her love for the ice turned into a love for hockey, especially the Washington Capitals, her father said. She even traveled with her adult league team to Toronto for a world tournament.

Walters also built a large network of friends through online multiplayer games such as Asheron’s Call and World of Warcraft. She even attempted to get Waldrop into the games, though to no avail.

“That’s not really my cup of tea,” Waldrop said with a laugh. “She enjoyed it; that’s what she liked to do, and she met a lot of people virtually through those systems.”

Walters truly loved people, her father said; she embraced her own quirks and appreciated those she saw in others.

It was a trait Waldrop noticed as well. Walters had an uncommon willingness to accept everyone.

“She did not view people with any judgments whatsoever,” Waldrop said. “She just took you on your level and loved you.”

Walters’ survivors include her parents, William and Barbara; her brother, alumnus David of Poway, Calif.; and a nephew, Adam.