Thelma Burch

Thelma Nadine Burch, age 91 of Caney, Kansas passed away Friday, September 6, 2013 at her home in Caney, Kansas. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at the Cornerstone Church of Caney, Kansas with the Reverend Brad Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunnyside Cemetery under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. Friends may sign the register book from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, September 9, 2013 at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. Thelma Nadine Burch was born southwest of Chautauqua, Kansas on November 11, 1921 to Brooks and Mae Tresner Mantooth. She attended grade school at Chautauqua and Fowler and high school at Chautauqua and later Caney. In 1941, she married Bob Robertson from Peru, Kansas. Bob was killed in 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Thelma married Doyle Burch in 1946 and they made their home in Chicago, Illinois for two years while Doyle attended Optometry College. Dr. Doyle and Thelma moved to Caney in 1948 and opened an optometry practice. From 1948 to 1957 Thelma stayed home to raise her three children. In 1957 she began working along side Doyle as the office manager. When Doyle retired in 1974 from the practice and her son, Dr. Roger Burch took over, Thelma continued as office manager until she retired in 1999. Dr. Doyle Burch passed away in 1993. In 1996 Thelma reconnected with an old high school sweetheart, Jack Huffman, and they became companions until his death in 2003. Thelma was a member of the First Baptist Church in Caney, Kansas. Thelma was also preceded in death by one sister, Wanda Stotts and two brothers Ernest Mantooth and Hugh Mantooth. Survivors include two sisters Neva Parker of Wichita and Vesta Miller of FairPlay, Missouri one daughter Marthena Draper and Lewis Dean of the home two sons Dr. Roger and wife Kyle Burch of Caney and John and wife Melanie Burch of Yorktown Heights, New York six grandchildren David Draper of Bedford, Texas, Dr. Amy Whittington and Justin of Chandler, Arizona, Christian Burch and John Frechette of Jackson, Wyoming, and Ava, Ciara, and Jackson Burch from New York, and one more on the way four great grandchildren D.J. and Jordan Draper and Fletcher and Oliver Whittington. Thelmas life revolved around her family and she will be deeply missed.