Richard Kidwell's Obituary
Richard was born on August 20th, 1942 in Newton, Kansas to Richard L. Kidwell and Irma Leola Gray Kidwell. Raised in Coffeyville, Kansas, he spent his early working years in retail management. He worked for Singer Sewing Machine Co. and managed several stores, including the one in Coffeyville that his father had managed for many years. He later began managing variety stores for Mattingly Brothers in Missouri. In 1973 he accepted a job with City Products as a retail sales manager and the family moved to Broken Arrow. While the family no longer had to move with his transfers, he now had to travel to four states which took him away from family too much. In 1979 he quit and started building car washes. eventually he would get the urge to go back to retail, and with his wife Sue, would buy Little Professor Book Store in Broken Arrow and build two Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee stores in Tulsa and Fayetteville.Richard was a good and loving man. a quiet man, he cared deeply for those around him and he cared for his family more than anything in the world. His happiest times were spent at Grand Lake with his grandchildren or playing with antique trains and pinball machines with them. He loved cars and usually owned something interesting, from a Model A to an Alfa Romeo.He was preceded in death by his parents, and his daughter Courtney Leigh Kidwell.He is survived by his wife Virginia Sue Kidwell, daughter and son-in-law Monica Kidwell and Stephen Smith, Grandchildren Michael Smith, Abby Smith, and Katherine Smith, sister and brother-in-law Susan and Tom Jordan, sister and brother-in-law Joleen and Frank Sevart, and sister Victoria Martin and several nieces and nephews.A Memorial Service will be held at All Soul Unitarian Church on January 3rd, 2019 at 1:00PM
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