Richard Kirkham

Richard Junior Kirkham was born on April 10, 1934 to Alida Schaart Kirkham and Richard Welcome Kirkham in Ogden, UT at the height of the Depression to a poor family.  He was proud that he put himself through college while helping his divorced mother with living expenses.  Following college, he taught for five years at Skyline High School.  He had fond memories of teaching.  After teaching, he spent his working career as an investigator for the Defense Department.

He was always thankful that he has been born in time to enjoy the last of the big band era.  He loved dancing in his younger days and spent exciting hours dancing at Lagoon and The Terrace in Salt Lake City.  He had many fond memories of snow skiing, water skiing, and playing racquetball.  In retirement, his great passion was reading history, especially military history, and listening to music.

He was romantic and sentimental by nature.  He married late mainly because he tended to date religious Mormon girls who could not accept his agnostic views, which lead to an eventual breakup.  He always told his wife of 44 years that she was the “best thing that ever happened to me”.

He had one daughter, Kelly Mary Beck who was the light of his life even though there were a few difficult times along the way. Kelly wants you to know that he was a “great Dad”.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alida Kirkham and his sister Dolores Choenour.  He is survived by his sister, Mary Kay McLauglin, his wife Elaine Langford Kirkham and his daughter Kelly Beck (Bradley) and three grandchildren, Crayson Michael Neeley, Shae Marie Neeley and Skye Myranda Neeley and other nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 11:00 am, at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 am prior to services. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.