Frances D Kirkham Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

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 2:00 p.m. Wednesday June 10, 2020 at Wharton Funeral Home Chapel with a 4:00 p.m. Interment at Alva Municipal Cemetery. Frances grew up on the family farm southeast of Capron, Oklahoma. 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.

Frances D Kirkham

March 9, 1925 - June 5, 2020