Reva Ardel Houser, 92, of Plainville, Kansas, died on Friday, July 26, 2024, at the Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas.
Ardell was born on June 13, 1932, on the family farm in rural Natoma, Kansas, the daughter of Matthew A. and Velma P. (Dorr) Kirkwood. She grew up in Natoma and graduated from Natoma High School in the class of 1950. She met, fell in love with and united in marriage to Billy Lynn Houser in July 22, 1950. From this union Ardell and Bill were blessed with 4 sons Lynn, Jerry, Kirk and Tom. She was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker. Ardell began her career as a cook at the school in Codell, Kansas. In 1966 they moved to California. While there Ardell cooked at a nursing home. In 1975, they moved back to Kansas, where she took classes to become a dietary manager. She was the dietary manager at a nursing home in Phillipsburg, Kansas from 1975 to early 1982. In 1982 they moved to Plainville, where she managed the school kitchen until her retirement in 1993. On November 10, 2000, she was married to Wayne Wickham. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Plainville. She enjoyed crocheting, collecting decorative plates, traveling, spoiling her dog and spending time with her family.
Surviving family include her four sons Lynn Houser (Cherie) of Plainville, Kansas, Jerry Houser (Janet) of Fairfield, Illinois, Kirk Houser (Connie) of Weaubleau, Missouri and Tom Houser (Cindy) of Madison, South Dakota; 9 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Bill on December 29, 1989 her second husband Wayne Wickham on July 06, 2014, and a granddaughter Mitsy Houser Elliot. A celebration of Reva’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 03, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Plainville, Kansas. Family greeting and visitation will be at the church from 10 A.M. to service time, Saturday August 03, 2024. A burial will follow the church service at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas. Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church of Plainville, Kansas, and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Natoma, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.