Obit of Rector-Wyckoff, Kathleen L - Unknown County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 20 May 2007 Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Brings FH--Tucson AZ Tucson Citizen, Tucson AZ Kathleen L. Rector-Wyckoff November 7, 1917 - April 1, 2004 Kathleen was a native Arizonan even though she was born in Oklahoma. Her mother, Agnes Posey Spriggs, was visiting family there in November 1917, and Kathleen decided it was time to be born and join the festivities. They returned to Arizona six weeks later. Her father, E.L. Spriggs, was the third judge of the Superior Court of Graham County after Arizona became a state. He also presided in Tombstone, Globe, and Clifton. Her stepfather was Victor J. Wager of Santa Cruz County and of an Arizona pioneer family. Kathleen graduated from Nogales High School. Her first two college years were at Arizona State in Tempe, after which she transferred to the University of Arizona in Tucson, pledged Pi Beta Phi, and graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Public Administration. She furthered her business skills attending Harvard University in 1976 for a summer session institute in Management Development in Arts Administration. Kathleen gave many years of service to Tucson and Arizona organizations. One of the founders of the Arizona Opera, having served as its second president and also several terms as a director, Kathleen was a lifetime honoree of the Opera. She also served on the Board of Trustees of the Tucson Symphony and the Advisory Board of the Tucson Museum of Art. Kathleen was chairman of the committee that established the Gift Store at the Arizona Historical Society and was a trustee of the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. She was active in "Up with People" and served as a member of its International Committee, traveling several times with casts performing in Europe. She was appointed a member of the Arizona-Mexico Commission by Raul Castro, then governor of Arizona. She joined the Junior League while living in Cleveland, Ohio and transferred to the Tucson chapter when Arizona became her permanent home. On June 9, 1991 the Arizona Daily Star, in a feature story, honored the five Great Dames of Tucson, and Kathleen was one of them. It is fair to say that this title continued to fit her until the end of her well-lived life, for her continuing activities and leadership in Tucson and Arizona. During the past three decades, Kathleen particularly enjoyed her associations with students at the University of Arizona College of Business who benefited from four-year William G. Rector Memorial scholarships. Kathleen and her mother, Agnes Spriggs, funded University of Arizona Law School scholarships. Kathleen was an active member of the U of A President's Club, the U of A College of Fine Arts Medici Circle, the Junior League Sustainers, and The Tucson Garden Club. Kathleen is survived by her husband of six years, William Seibert Wyckoff; her three children, Barbara Kathleen Rector of Tucson; Susan Elizabeth Semmens of Scottsdale; and Walter William Rector of Scottsdale; six grandchildren, Cynthia Boynton Parks, Robert Arnett Morken III, Richard C. Boynton, Kathleen Rector Morken, Wendy Rector Ridell, Josh Rector; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to T.R.O.T. or to the Desert Skies United Methodist Church. A celebration of Kathleen's life will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2004 at 2:00 in the afternoon at Desert Skies United Methodist Church located at the corner of Houghton Road and Fort Lowell. Dr. Peter Vaught of Tucson and Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Elrod of Palestine, Texas will officiate. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html