Wanda Lee Kirkland

Wanda L. Kirkland, 89, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at Vintage Park at Ottawa.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the First Christian Church, Ottawa

Inurnment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, to be held later.

Wanda was born February 10, 1933, in Centropolis, Kansas, the daughter of Claude A. and Amy P. (Forth) Myers.

She was a lifelong Franklin County resident, moving in 1951 to Ottawa.

She graduated from Appanoose High School with the class of 1951 and continued her education graduating from Clark Business School in Topeka, Kansas.

On September 18, 1951, Wanda was united in marriage to Rex E. Kirkland in Centropolis, Kansas. Eight days following their marriage Rex left for Army Boot Camp then later left for Korea.

Wanda was employed as a credit manager for Sears of Ottawa in the early 1950’s; clerk and cashier for Myers Auction Service of Centropolis in the 1970’s to early 1980’s; and receptionist for the Kansas Department for Children & Families (formerly SRS) in Ottawa from the mid-1980’s until her retirement in 2000.

She was an active life member of the First Christian Church for over 60 years and former member of Centropolis Christian Church. Wanda enjoyed attending classic car shows with her husband Rex, several bridge clubs in Ottawa, church potluck dinners, antiques, crocheting, music, and Dinner Theater. She was known as “block mother” to many and loved the time she spent with her family and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Rex Kirkland; parents Claude and Amy Myers; infant brother Dale Myers; twin sisters, Doris Benander and Lois Fleming; and daughter Kelley Hawkins.

Survivors include her daughter Lisa Watts and husband Arlie Jr. of Ottawa; son-in-law Larry Hawkins of Ottawa; eight grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to First Christian Church of Ottawa c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.