Ardeth Mae Longfellow of Eureka, Kansas, died on Friday, September 16, 2016, at Eureka Nursing Center in Eureka, at the age of 101.
She was born on August 8, 1915, in Greensburg, Kansas, the daughter of Roy and Gladys (Erb) Kessinger. She was raised in Climax, Kansas and graduated from Climax High School with the class of 1933. On July 3, 1937, Ardeth was united in marriage to Charles “Buck” Longfellow. To this union, one child was born. They made their home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Tulsa, Oklahoma while Buck was driving a truck. While in Tulsa, daughter, Luanna was born. They later returned to Climax where they ran the Climax Grocery Story from 1945 to 1958. Ardeth worked as a beautician after they sold the grocery store. They retired to Eureka in 2010. Buck preceded her in death on November 5, 2011.
She is survived by one daughter, Luanna Pinkston of Clearwater, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters, Anna Arlene Knickerbocker-Barnes; and Mable “Maxine” Conley.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka with Pastor Kevin Lawrence of the Climax United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation hours are set from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Monday, September 19, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Climax United Methodist Church. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is in charge of service arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online at koupfunerals.com.
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