Robert Lewis Kirkley

Robert L. "Bob" Kirkley, 84, died Sunday, May 14, 2006, in a local hospital. A funeral service, with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating, will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 in the First Baptist Church Chapel. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Bob was born May 26, 1921, in Mullett, Oklahoma to Clarence and Rena Mae Gilbert Kirkley. He graduated from Claremore High School and later, came to Camp Barkeley during World War II where he met and married Idell Harvey on June 19, 1943 in Abilene. In addition to Camp Barkeley, Bob served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, the family made Abilene their home where Bob worked for Hendrick Health System as a painter. After retirement, he became a member of the Hendrick Volunteers. Bob was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, where he later sang in the Senior Choir. An avid coin collector, he was a member of the Key City Coin and Stamp Club who also enjoyed gardening and e-mailing family and friends. Survivors include: his wife, Idell Kirkley of Abilene; a daughter, Donna and her husband Russell Souders of Abilene; four sisters, Liddie Belle Lewis and Virginia Janos, both of Claremore, Oklahoma, Dorothy Chapman of Shreveport, Louisiana and Letha McDonald of Corpus Christi, Texas; three brothers, Jess Kirkley of Dallas, Texas, Eugene Kirkley of Canyon, Texas and Curtis Kirkley of Hutchinson, Kansas; two grandchildren, Russell Lewis Souders Jr. and Robin Pritchett and husband Steven and a great-grandson, Jayden Pritchett all of Abilene, and pets Boomer and Sooner.