Frances Kirkham 1927-2021
Frances Irene (Abbott) Kirkham, 93, Meriden, formerly of Valley Falls, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at The Kelley House in Meriden.
She was born Aug. 19, 1927, in Valley Falls, the daughter of Frank and Irene (Schonfeldt) Abbott.
On March 20, 1947, Frances was united in marriage to Calvin “Cal” Dale Kirkham Sr. in Westmoreland. They shared 52 years of marriage before Calvin passed away on July 8, 1999.
Frances worked from 1960 to 1974 for Morgan Drive Away as a terminal agent in Topeka. Frances was a dispatcher for her husband Cal’s Mobile Home Company from 1974 to 1985.
In Frances later years, she volunteered at Colmer-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka. She was also a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Valley Falls.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Calvin; two brothers, Charles and William Abbott; and a great-grandson, Casey McNorton.
Frances is survived by three children, George Abbott of Wright City, Mo., Mazie Gehring of Ozawkie and Calvin Dale (Deborah) Kirkham Jr. of Meriden; four brothers, Paul, Millard, and Herbert, all of Topeka, and Jerry Abbott of Silver Lake; nine grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Family will receive friends one hour prior at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088. To leave Frances’s family a condolence please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
