Individual Details

Esther Aline Strickland

(4 Dec 1924 - 27 Jan 2013)

Posted at findagrave.com: OSWEGO, KANSAS: Esther Aline (Strickland) Kirkpatrick died Sunday, January 27, 2013 at her daughter's home in Lawrence, Kansas. She was surrounded by her family at her death.

Esther was born to Will and Leona (Cunningham) Strickland on December 4,1924. She was the fourth child born at the family farm in rural Labette County. The family would eventually grow to 9 children. She attended Dickerman School, a rural one-room schoolhouse, thru 8th grade. She left home at the age of 14 and moved to Oswego so that she could attend high school. She graduated from Oswego High School in 1943, the first member of her family to achieve that level of education.

She married Wilbur "Bill" Kirkpatrick, her high school 'sweetheart', on May 24,1944, in the First Methodist Church in Oswego, while he was on leave from military service in WWII. During his active duty assignment in the Aleutian Islands, she worked at Rexall Drug Store in Oswego. Their daughter, Joanne, was born in 1945 and Esther moved with her husband to San Antonio, Texas, while he finished his tour with the Army. After the service, they returned to make their home in Oswego. Their son, Randy, was born in 1949 and she cared for both of them while Bill worked for the U.S. Postal Service. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother.

She started working for the First National Bank in Oswego in 1960, and retired from there in 1986. She was a member of the SEK Women's Bankers Association, a charter member and twice president of the VFW Auxiliary, long-time treasurer of United Methodist Women's group, a Sunday school teacher, a Girl Scout leader, and an active member of the United Methodist Church .

She was a survivor of breast cancer. Upon retirement she enjoyed oil painting and raising and caring for her flowers. She fed and enjoyed the birds that came to her back yard and she loved to visit her children and grandchildren. In recent years she especially enjoyed watching her great great grandsons grow. She and Bill enjoyed traveling and golfing. They were married for 53 years until his death in 1997.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, and one brother.

She is survived by her children: Joanne (Lloyd) Hoobler of Lawrence, Ks., Randy Kirkpatrick of Cherryvale, Ks.; two grandsons: Chad Hoobler of Baldwin, Ks. and Bradly (Leanne) Hoobler of McLouth, Ks.; three grandchildren: Evan, Logan, and Brooke Hoobler; three great great grandsons: Ryder, Brantley, and Trace Hoobler; three sisters: Elsie (Ronald) Phillips of Butler, Mo., Betty Jean(Bill) Martinie of Altamont, Ks., and Karen (Wesley) Ball of Colwich, Ks.; one brother, Albert (Peggy) Strickland; a sister-in-law, Betty Strickland; and a brother-in-law, Paul Fisher, all of Oswego, Ks. The family will receive friends and family on Friday, February 1, 2013 from 6:30 pm to8:00 pm , at Derfelt Funeral Home in Oswego. Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 2:00 pm at the First Methodist Church in Oswego. Pastor Bob Conway will officiate. Burial will be at the Oswego Cemetery immediately following the services. Donations in honor of Esther's life and contributions to the community should be made to the Oswego Methodist Church or to the American Cancer Society through Derfelt Funeral Home , 203 Illinois St. Oswego, Kansas 67356.

Events

Birth4 Dec 1924Labette Co., Kansas
Marriage24 May 1944Parsons, Labette Co., Kansas - Wilber Howard "Bill" Kirkpatrick
Death27 Jan 2013Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas
BurialOswego Cemetery, Oswego, Labette Co., Kansas

Families

Endnotes