Roy S Kirchner Jr. (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Roy Stanley Kirchner, Jr., was born Oct. 25, 1932, in the home of his parents, Roy Stanley Kirchner & Lillie Ellen (Newcomb) Kirchner, on a farm in Jefferson Twp., Cedar Co., Mo., that was about 3 miles NW of Dunnegan and about 5 1/2 miles SW of Humansville. Roy passed away at age 81 yrs 5 mos and 16 days unexpectedly from heart failure about 2am on April 10, 2014, in his home in Bolivar, Mo., while sitting at his computer working on the Thatch family history. It was his goal to complete his work on the Kirchner, Poe, Newcomb, & Thatch families, our main four branches. He was very close to this goal, having completed the first three.
He attended grade school at High Point, a country school in Cedar Co., about 2 miles west and a little south of the farm where he was born, and at Union, District No. 5, a country school about 3 1/2 miles east of Flemington in Polk Co., where he graduated from the 8th grade. He then attended the Humansville High School where he graduated in 1949 and was salutatorian of the class that year. During the following year, he again attended the Humansville High School and took post-graduate courses. Much of his time was spent mowing lawns all over the town during summer vacations. He was a member of the Boy Scouts in Humansville.
Roy married Deva Louise Poe on April 7, 1954. They were married in the Church of the Nazarene in San Bernardino, California. They first met when Roy was a senior and Deva was a freshman at Humansville High School. To this union were born three children: Christena Louise, Angelena Jean, and Roy Stanley, III. Roy & Deva happily celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary three days before his passing.
Roy enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 11, 1951, and retired as a Staff Sergeant on Aug. 1, 1971, after serving for 20 years and 20 days. His occupation during that time was typist and stenographic technician . He was stationed at Lackland AFB near San Antonio, Texas, for basic training. Next, he was at the University of Alabama for additional technical training. He was the No. 1 Honor Student in the class. The overseas locations which he was stationed included Wiesbaden, Germany (twice); Paris, France; Phan Rang, Vietnam; Johnston Island in the Pacific; and Hickam AFB near Honolulu, Hawaii. After discharge, Roy, Deva, & children returned to Humansville. On Jan. 1, 1972, they moved into the home they bought at 604 S. Lillian Ave. in Bolivar, Mo., where Roy & Deva still lived at the time of his death.
Roy attended the Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and received an Associate of Science degree in General Education on May 19, 1979. His first and ONLY car was a 1955 Ford Customline, bought new in Hayward, Calif., for $2,500 in Aug. 1955, which was still being driven by him shortly before his death. He was particularly interested in pursuing his favorite hobby of genealogical research which was commenced on Jan 1, 1957. He was also interested in stamp collecting, coin collecting, old books, old phonograph records, song collecting, tape recording, and computers. Roy & Deva mainly attended First Assembly of God Church of Bolivar.
Roy is survived by his wife, Deva Louise Kirchner, of the home; daughters Christena Barber of Bolivar, Mo., Angelena Hirsch and husband Johnya of Mexico, Mo.; son Roy S. Kirchner, III of Clinton, Mo.; grandchildren Atha Marie (Barber) Schatz and husband Benjamen of Kansas City, Mo., Nathan Daniel Barber and wife Misty of Clarksville, Tn., Joshua David Barber and wife Lauren of Olathe, Ks., Marissa Jean Barber of Bolivar, Mo., Glen Roy Mollet of Rush Hill, Mo., Mike Martin Mollet of Rush Hill, Mo., and Jesse John Seth Hirsch of Mexico, Mo.; great-grandchildren are Emily Elizabeth Schatz of Kansas City, Mo., Olivia Danielle Barber of Clarksville, Tn., and baby Barber due Oct 20 of Olathe, Ks. Roy is also survived by ex-son-in-laws Richard Barber of Fairplay, Mo. and Ray Mollet of Rush Hill, Mo.; brother-in-law Ross Poe of Colorado Springs, Co.; 1st cousin Nancy (Newcomb) Mann of Great Falls, Va.
Roy had many dear friends from the Polk County Genealogical Society, which he was an original member of 20 years. Susan Sparks was like a daughter to him. Roy's unique personality and quirkiness will be greatly missed by family and friends! He was loved.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the PCGS in Bolivar, Mo. Online condolences may be made at www.butlerfuneralhome.com
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