Twila A. Bleam

Twila Almeda Hill was born on April 12, 1925 at home in Achilles, Kansas to Hervie and Anna Johnston Hill. She attended school in Achilles, Herndon and Oberlin, KS and moved to Wichita, KS graduating from Wichita East High School in 1943. After graduation, Twila worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, KS for 2 years helping to build B-29s. Throughout her young years, she was something to contend with on the softball field and basketball court.

Wanting to be like her older brothers and serve her country, Twila joined the Coast Guard (SPARS). She served in New Orleans, LA and Sault Ste. Marie, MI where she was an office assistant and a leader in the barracks. Her last location with the Coast Guard was New York City where she planned events such as welcoming WWII service men as they came home from Europe.

She attended Vernon's School of Cosmetology in Wichita, KS and owned a beauty shop in Clay Center, KS where she met Ernest Bleam. They were married on July 4, 1948 in Oak Hill, KS. They moved to Chicago, IL for Ernest to attend photography school while Twila worked as an elevator operator at Marshall Fields Department Store where she met famous people. They returned to Kansas for Ernest to attend Kansas State University in Manhattan. Next, they moved to Wichita where Ernest taught Junior High Social Studies until his death in 1974.

Ernest and Twila had four children - Carrie, Warren, Dan, and Jill. The family attended Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita. Ernest and Twila gained lifelong friends when they joined the Cruiser Sunday School class. Twila was active in Women's Aglow and held a leadership role. In Wichita, Twila worked at Thompson Turkey Farm, H & H Manufacturing, Sedgwick County Mental Health Clinic (later, Comcare). As a grandmother, she enjoyed attending football, basketball, and baseball games as well as concerts and plays.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant son Warren, her husband Ernest, brothers Duane Hill and Dewey Hill, and sisters Lorraine Hill and Ivalee O'Grady.

She is survived by her sister Roberta Bartleson of Towanda, her daughter Carrie and husband Lewis Unruh of Peabody, her son Dan Bleam of Wichita, and her daughter Jill and husband Eric Lundgren of Wichita, her grandsons Phil and wife Sarahanne Unruh of Hesston, Michael and wife Lina Unruh of Wichita, and Jason and wife Anna Unruh of Peabody and her great-grandchildren Vatiken, Bosten, Eliza, David, Kingsten, and Heath Unruh.

Funeral Service will be Friday, October 23, 2020 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS, 67208 at 2pm Central Daylight Time. Masks are requested and social distancing. Burial following at Lakeview Cemetery. Please scroll down to SCHEDULED SERVICES for a Livestream Link.