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News Death Notice
KIRKMAN, Gwen Whitmer 87, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 6, 2012 surrounded by her family. She was born March 30, 1925 in Jeffersonville, Ohio to Ammi and Bertha Whitmer and graduated from high school there. She soon moved to Dayton and worked during the war at the Chrysler plant, which had been turned over to war production. From there, she lived in Little Falls, NJ, Glens Falls, NY, Lima, OH, Columbia City, IN, Coraopolis, PA prior to moving back to the Dayton area in 1971. In the late '70s, she attended the Kettering School of Medical Arts and graduated with a nursing degree, working at Dayton Children's Hospital until her retirement. She walked into her first art museum in 1983 and began the love affair with art she would continue for the rest of her life, working into her early 80s as a librarian at the Dayton Art Institute, where she was also a docent for many years. Her fabric and pattern collection was second to none, and she loved Beaujolais Nouveau and bought it as soon as it was available each year. She loved cities, Thunderbirds, Frank Sinatra, Broadway musicals and traveling. Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, Ammi and Bertha Whitmer, sisters Ada Whitmer and Carolyn June Guy, and brother-in-law William Hissong. She is survived by her beloved baby sister, Pearl Hissong, and her six children and their families; Michael (Jean Atwood) Kirkman, Peggy Sivakoff, Pat (James) Nies, Scott (Diane) Kirkman, Susan (Bruce) Zake and Kathy (Jack) Sperry. She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: John Kirkman, David (Sara) Kirkman, Erin (Dan) Clouse, Elizabeth Nickell, Michael Nies, Sara Nies, Adam Sivakoff, Kate Sivakoff, Aaron Zake, Bryan Zake, Alex Sperry and Emma Sperry. Gwen also leaves two great grandbabies: Vanessa Marie and Miranda Jean Clouse. Gwen also leaves her loving nieces and nephews, Cindy Dickey, Yvonne Hissong, David Hissong and John (Beth) Hissong and two life friends, Jeanine Dwyer and Isabel Malloy. The family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff at Heartland of Centerville for providing Gwen with such excellent care and attention in her last months. The family also thanks the Hospice of Dayton employees, especially chaplain, Karen; nurse, Jessica and LSW, Pam for the incredible warmth and comfort they provided to Gwen and our family. In lieu of flowers or other memorials, please make a donation to her favorite place in Dayton, the Dayton Art Institute. Since Gwen donated her remains to Wright State's medical school, there will be no funeral. We will have a memorial service to celebrate her life at a later date.
Published in Dayton Daily News on June 10, 2012
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