Sibyl Louise Hitch ¹

Louise Dirksen, 95, died Feb. 25, 2012, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born Nov. 1, 1916, in Great Bend, to William Brinson and Sibyl Irene (Stout) Hitch. Louise was a member of Hutchinson Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was a secretary at Hutchinson Community College for 20 years, retiring in 1988. On May 30, 1935, she married John Henry Dirksen in Wichita. He died May 31, 1994. Survivors include: son, Dr. J. William Dirksen and his wife Marlys Dirksen of Washington, Utah; two daughters, JoAn Powell and her husband Dr. Jerry Powell of Loveland, Colo. and Jan Jacobs and her husband Clark Jacobs of Hutchinson; brother, J.W. Hitch of Riverside, Calif.; sister, Mary Leuzinger of Stockton, Mo.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Louise was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Brinson and Robert Hitch; and a sister, Frances Smith.

Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, with Pastor Jerry Nowack officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon Monday with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hutchinson Seventh Day Adventist Church, in care of the mortuary.

Sibyl married John Henry Dirksen. (John Henry Dirksen died on 31 May 1994 in Hutchinson, Reno Co., KS.)