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Frances Dean Kirkham © Alva Review-Courier 06-10-2020 Submitted by: Jo Aguirre
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March 9, 1925 - June 5, 2020
Frances Dean, daughter of Mildred "Parker" and Landon French, was born March 9, 1925, in Capron, Oklahoma. She passed away June 5, 2020 in Alva, Oklahoma, at the age of 95. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at Wharton Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in Alva Municipal Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at http://www.whartonfuneralchapel.com.
Frances grew up on the family farm southeast of Capron. She attended Burlington Public Schools where she enjoyed playing basketball and having her Aunt Laura French as her teacher. Frances graduated from Burlington High School in 1943. After graduating she attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Frances excelled in her schooling and was an active member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. She graduated from Northwestern in 1948 with a degree in pre-med biology.
One evening while attending a local dance hall, Frances met the love of her life, Richard Kirkham, from Sweetwater, Alabama. Richard was serving in the Army with the special services and was stationed in Alva at the P.O.W. camp. On June 24, 1950, Frances and Richard were married at her Uncle Frank and Aunt Vernon McArthur's home. The couple made their home in Alva and a few years later started farming and established Kirkham Farms, Inc. Frances maintained the bookkeeping for Kirkham Farms and always took great pride in her work. Frances and Richard continued to enjoy going to dance halls together and were active members of the First United Methodist Church.
On June 5, 1959, Richard and Frances welcomed their son, John Allen Kirkham. Later their two grandsons, Ian and Simon, were born. Frances also became a great-grandmother to Declan who she called her "Sugar Babe." She was always doting, proud and supportive of all of her boys. Frances loved being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Frances is remembered for her great sense of humor and her spirited personality. She always loved to journal and in her later years, enjoyed watching the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard Kirkham, her son, John Kirkham, her friend and cousin, Shirley Cummings, and many beloved aunts and uncles.
She is survived by grandsons Ian and his wife, Kara Kirkham, and Simon and his wife, Julie Kirkham; and great grandson, Declan Kirkham, all of Alva.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Alva Senior Citizen Center.
Richard H. Kirkham © Alva Review-Courier 01-21-2009 Submitted by: Jo Aguirre
February 28, 1921 - January 17, 2009
Funeral service will be Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Terry Martindale officiating. Burial will follow in the Alva Municipal Cemetery. Wharton Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Richard Henry, son of Rebecca (Dunn) and Joel J. Kirkham, one of 14 children, was born February 28, 1921, near Sweetwater, Alabama. He passed away at the Alva Share Medical Center on the 17th of January at the age of 87 years, 10 months and 20 days.
He attended the Sweetwater School System where he graduated from High School. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army with the special services and was stationed in Alva at the P.O.W. camp. He attended college at Auburn and Livingston State College.
On June 24, 1950 he was married to Frances French at her Uncle Frank and Aunt Vernon McArthur’s home. To their marriage a son, John, was born.
Following their marriage they made their home in Alva and he worked for Santa Fe Railway as a lineman on their telephone and telegraph system in five states for 4 years. He then started farming and worked for Tyree clothing store for 12 years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a fifty-year member of the Home Builders Sunday School Class, a former member of the Elks Lodge and the Capron American Legion.
Mr. Kirkham was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and seven brothers.
Richard is survived by his wife Frances of the home, his son John; two grandsons, Ian and Simon, all of Alva; two sisters, Frankie Cannon, of Linden, Alabama, and Sudie Reid, of Thomasville, Alabama; two brothers and their wives, J.D. and Ollie, of Rochester, Pennsylvania and Orice and Jean, of Linden, Alabama; a special nephew, Bill Kirkham; several other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Contributions may be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church for the Sanctuary restoration.
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