Martha Frances Reder Lankford

MARTHA FRANCES REDER LANKFORD, age 85, of Springdale, AR went home to the Lord on Monday, January 21, 2013. She was born on March 4, 1927, in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of George W. and EvaLena Reder. Her family moved to Springdale in 1938. She grew up in the First Christian Church of Springdale, where she worked for many years in the music ministry and she also served as elder. She was a dedicated Springdalian and loved to work with the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, serving for many years on the Board of Trustees and being made a Life Trustee in her later years. Education was always important in her life. For over 33 years, she taught English and Music, primarily in the Springdale School District, and she was one of the founding members of the Springdale Schools Alumni Foundation. Her greatest joys were cooking with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and working in the garden so she could share her flowers. She is survived by her three children, Karen Smith and husband Charles; and Kathryn Birkhead, all of Springdale; and Michael Lankford and wife Gwen of Pine Bluff; one sister, EvaLena Mayo and husband Ben of Bentonville; 8 grandsons, Allen and Chris Smith, Kelly and Josh Sullivan, Bryan and Jonathan Lankford, and Nathan and Colin Birkhead; and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Raymond Lankford, and their beloved daughter, Frances Elise Lankford Sullivan. At the end of her life, she was lovingly cared for by Margie Davidson Arredondo and by staff of Circle of Life Hospice. A Celebration of Life will be held at Spring Creek Fellowship in Springdale on Friday, January 25 at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Dr. Rick Grace officiating. Memorials may be made in her name to Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and to Spring Creek Fellowship.