Oscar Kirkham

O. NED KIRKHAM Oscar Ned Kirkham, 95, of Chico, died Wednesday, January 21, 2015. He was born March 11, 1919, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ida Murdock and Oscar A. Kirkham. He was the sixth of eight children. Following graduation from East High School in Salt Lake City in 1936, he enrolled at Brigham Young University. He attended three semesters there before being called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in South Africa until the outbreak of World War II when LDS missionaries were called home from Europe, Asia and Africa. He was reassigned and completed his mission service in the Eastern States Mission. He attended the University of Utah for one semester before being inducted into the United States Army. Following basic training, he was stationed at the Presidio Army Base in San Francisco. He was promoted through the ranks to staff sergeant before selection for Officers Training School. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant and returned to the Army Ordinance Division at the Presidio. He transferred with his command to Detroit, Michigan, in 1942, to supervise a car plant retooled to produce tanks. He was promoted to the rank of Captain and worked as the civilian personnel manager at the factory for the duration of the war. Ned continued to serve in the Army reserves, ultimately retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Ned loved San Francisco and enrolled on the G.I. Bill at Stanford University. Ned and Renee Shepard met during the summer of 1946 at Renee's father's dentist's office. Renee worked as the receptionist. They were married December 27, 1946, in the Salt Lake City, LDS Temple. He and his bride returned to California. Ned graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business and Finance from Stanford in 1948. He was hired by the Bank of America and worked in personnel and managerial positions for 33 years. Ned and Renee moved to Chico in 1966 where he was promoted to Vice President and Manager of the Chico Main Branch and worked there for 10 years. His expertise in agri-business loans led to his being transferred to the bank's Fresno Main Branch. Ned was elected twice to serve on the Butte Community College Board of Trustees and became chair of that board. He was on the advisory council for CSU, Chico's Business School. He was president of the President's Advisory Council for CSU, Fresno. He served on the Chico Community Hospital governing board. He is a past president of the Greater Chico Chamber of Commerce. Ned valued education. During his retirement years he completed more than 50 post-graduated units in history at CSUC and audited several other classes. He and Renee regularly attended courses offered by the Osher Livelong Learning Institute for Seniors (CSUC). They used the knowledge gained to springboard their extensive worldwide travel. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life and served as Bishop of the Chico First Ward from 1992 to 1995. For a time he represented the LDS Church on the Chico Area Inter-faith Council. Ned is survived by two children: Daniel of Cohasset, and Jennifer of Chico; a brother, Mark Mercer Kirkham, a sister Jane Bassler, both of Salt Lake; and a sister Kathryn Andrews Bird, of Layton, Utah. A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, January 29, at the LDS chapel located at East Lassen and Ceres avenues. A private interment will be held earlier that day at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brusie Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, Ned requested that donations be made to the Butte County Library, Chico Branch, audio books section or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Perpetual Education Fund.