Ruth Temple Kirkman, beloved wife of Burton Lawrence Kirkman for 57 wonderful years, died on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at age 81 with her family by her side. She was born in Waukon, Iowa on the 15th of November 1930, daughter of Reverend Dr. Herbert Depear Temple and Mildred Donat Temple.
She is survived by her husband Burton, daughter Janet Kirkman Crewson and son-in-law Scott Norman
Crewson, daughter Sharon Kirkman Bradsher and son-in-law Troy Weldon Bradsher, and son Russell Lawrence Kirkman and daughter-in-law Linda G. Kirkman. Her grandchildren also mourn her passing: Julie Crewson Anewalt, Andrew Scott Crewson, Thomas Edward Bradsher, and Zachary Oliver Bradsher.
Her siblings are Philip Temple (deceased), Lois Hansen, and Miriam Temple, both of Iowa.
Mrs. Kirkman lived the last seven years at Willow Valley Retirement Community in Willow Street, PA and had previously lived with Burt in Wilmington, DE for 31 years as well as in Richmond, VA and Circleville,
OH.
Ruth was the homecoming queen at both Cedar Falls High School and Cornell College (Iowa) where she graduated with an elementary education degree in 1952. She taught school for 4years in Davenport,
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa. After raising her children, she worked 17 years at Medical Center of Delaware as a Lay Chaplin. Ruth also founded and coordinated a regional support chapter of the Acoustic Neuroma Association.
Ruth loved being a Christian and enjoyed all church activities but especially reading the scripture. She was a lifelong member of P.E.O. and earned her 60 year pin. Due to her outgoing and caring nature she made friends wherever she went and was still in touch with friends from high school. Ruth was a Phillies fan and enjoyed rooting them on. She had an extensive bell collection and gave over 100 programs about bells including at the International Association of Bell Collectors. Ruth was most at home in the kitchen, loving to cook, bake, and share recipes. She loved creating cutout cakes and frosting them for her friends and family.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 11:00 AM from the Willow Valley Lakes Manor Auditorium 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive Willow Street, PA with a light lunch following. The family will visit with friends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to First United Methodist Church or the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, both of Lancaster, PA.