Dorothy Arlene Gibson Kirchoff, 91, of Pampa, passed away on March 3, 2022 in Pampa.
Services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Lonny Robbins officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.
Arlene was born on October 22, 1930, in Tulsa, OK to Gaines and Maude Hall. She married James Lyle Gibson in Tulsa in March 1948, and they resided there until Lyle’s employment relocated them to Eunice, NM in 1950. Except for one year in Laurel, MS, they raised their two daughters in New Mexico before her husband was transferred to Pampa, TX in 1974.
Arlene graduated from the College of the Southwest with a Bachelor of Science in education and then completed her Master of Education at Eastern New Mexico University. She taught elementary school for many years in schools in New Mexico, Mississippi, and Pampa, TX. Every time her husband’s job required a move to another city (and there were several), Arlene always found a teaching job in the new city. She credited that to the Lord’s going before her and preparing a job. She retired with the Pampa ISD as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. Following her formal retirement from Pampa ISD, she became the liaison between Pampa ISD and Texas Commission on the Arts. As the liaison, she was responsible for bringing in artists-in-residence and various fine art productions to enrich the education of children in Pampa and the surrounding areas. During this time, she spear-headed the program where children from Pampa ISD created tiles to be displayed at the Oklahoma City National Memorial for the bombing victims. These tiles are part of the permanent display at the memorial and are seen by hundreds of visitors each year. After this, she sold textbooks for various publishers to schools across the Texas Panhandle. Her region covered all school districts from Lubbock to Wichita Falls and to the New Mexico and Oklahoma state lines. She was proud of the fact that she made a visit to every elementary school in her region. She finally retired at age 70.
Her God, her family, and her music were Arlene’s greatest loves. She became a church pianist at the age of 14 and served in that capacity and as a Sunday School teacher in every church she attended in the different communities they lived. She also played for services at the Harvest House for many years. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and a charter member of Trinity Fellowship Church in Pampa. She hosted a Life Group in her home for decades and always looked for ways to serve others and to tell them about Jesus. Through the years, hundreds of people were recipients of Arlene’s wonderful hospitality in her home and her unique ability to make everyone feel loved and important.
After the death of her first husband in 1992, Arlene married George Kirchoff in 1997. He became her chauffeur when she sold textbooks. Together they served the Life Group ministry at their church and the Harvest House for many years.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, two brothers, and her first husband. She is survived by her husband of the home; her two daughters, Beth Shannon (Mike) and Gloria Robbins (Lonny) of Pampa; two step-daughters, Janet Sanders (Johnny) and Amy Woods of Pampa; and a stepson, Gary Kirchoff (Kathleen) of Richardson, TX. Her grandchildren include Dawn Boyd (Shawn) of Amarillo; Amy May (Ian) of Colorado Springs, CO; Megan Belcher (Chris) of Houston, TX; Joel Shannon of Pampa; and Nick Robbins (Kelsi) of Amarillo. Step-grandchildren are Tiffani Kirchoff of Pampa; Kara Kirchoff and Aubrey Werzner (Konrad) of Austin, TX; and Garrett Kirchoff of Richardson. She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren: Evan, Jase, Kate, and Elle Boyd; Luke, Isaiah, Jonah, and Kenzie May; Claire and Avery Belcher; and Jude and Emery Robbins.
Memorials can be sent to Harvest House Ministries, 736 S. Cuyler, Pampa, Texas 79065.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 6:00-7:30 PM.
Sign the online guest register at www.carmichael-whatley.com.
