Carolyn J. Rector

Carolyn J. Rector, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. She was born on November 2, 1938 in Canton, Oklahoma the daughter of Edward and Mabel (Page) Kirkham. She and her two younger brothers were born and raised on the farm until the family moved to Wichita in 1953. Carolyn attended Derby High School, where she graduated in 1957. After graduation she had various jobs until she found a permanent job at Tweco Products. While at Tweco she worked as a fabricator, retiring in 2008.

On October 13, 1961 she married Leonard Dale Rector in Wichita, Kansas. To this union were born two sons, Bill and Richard.

As a family they took many family vacations to Florida, California, Branson and numerous other places. Carolyn and Dale spent many summers traveling with the boys, following their baseball careers. After the boys were older, they traveled extensively, including the UK to visit their son Bill, along with other countries abroad. Once their sons married and established their families Carolyn dedicated her time to her grandchildren and eventually their great grandchildrens activities. In 1995, Carolyn and Dale traveled to Hawaii to be reunited with her son, Dwight Cole who was placed for adoption at birth. Their last international trip as a couple was to Italy to visit extended family.

Carolyn had a magnetic personality, a contagious laugh and a heart of gold. Her family, parents, husband, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was loved by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mabel Kirkham; and a granddaughter, Savannah Rector.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Dale Rector; sons, Bill and wife, Laura Rector, Richard and wife, Lisa Rector, Dwight Cole; brothers, Larry Kirkham, Jerry and wife, Marva Kirkham; grandchildren, Samantha and husband, Robert May, Kristin and husband Dale Woods, Joshua Allred, Whitney Myers, Trevor and wife, Leslie Rector, Erick and wife, Genevia Cole, Tarrah Cole, Tori Cole, Chase Cole, Kami Cole; great grandchildren, Makenna, Kaden, Ella, Case, Olivia, Charlotte, Riley, Lainey, Clark, Nevaeh, Kahlani and twin girls on the way and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2023; funeral service will be held Monday, February 13, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, Kansas; interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Garden of Love.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Rector family.