Edith Kitchens

Edith "Edie" Orien Pope Kitchens

LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held at Greenoaks Memorial Park on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., honoring the life of Mrs. Wallace Alfred Kitchens, 92, who passed away peacefully at Garden View Assisted Living where she resided for the past four years. Edie was born February 16, 1921 in Gretna, LA to Elizabeth Bartels Pope and Thomas W. Pope. She was the only daughter and eldest of four children. She grew up and attended elementary and high school in New Orleans before attending Hillman College in Clinton, MS (now part of Mississippi College). After graduating, she returned to New Orleans where she met her husband Wally Kitchens at a USO dance for officers. She and Wally had two sons, Wallace Alfred, Jr. (Wally) and James Norwood (Jim) both of whom were born in New Orleans. She and her family lived in Jackson, MS for 10 years then moved to Baton Rouge where Edie lived for 47 years until she moved to Lafayette in 2009. For 47 years, Edie was a generous and very active member of Broadmoor Baptist Church . She was heavily involved with the Church's activities and very dedicated to teaching bible school weekly and Summer Vacation Bible School where she taught for many years. The Church was an integral facet of her life and influential in the rearing of her children. She and Wally also traveled extensively with church members and their pastor. Their travels took them several times to Europe and also to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. Some of the most memorable and wonderful times in Edie's life were traveling with her husband and their best friends Bob and Catherine Harbour in their motor home. The couples traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. Edie's last overseas travel was after Wally's death in 1999. She, her brother Carl, and life-long family friend, Carl Pagett, travelled to Russia. She also enjoyed reading and playing bridge. Edie is survived by her sons and their wives: Wally and Jan Hermes Kitchens of The Woodlands, TX, and Jim and Denise Labbe' Kitchens of Lafayette; grandchildren Kim Kitchens Ray and her husband Brooks Ray and Tracy Kitchens Blanchard and her husband Dr. Troy Blanchard; great grandchildren Nicholas Manly, Sophia Ray, Jack and Max Blanchard, all of Baton Rouge. She is also survived by her youngest brother Dr. Carl Pope of Gulfport, MS.

She is preceded in death by her husband Wallace Alfred Kitchens, Sr., her parents Elizabeth and Thomas Pope, her brothers Dr. Thomas Pope and Edward Pope.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Jim Pope, Bart Pope, Nicholas Manly, Brooks Ray, and Dr. Troy Blanchard. Honorary Pallbearer: Bob Harbour. The family requests that visitation be observed from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.g