Lawrence Wendell Kitchen of Bourbon, Missouri was born September 22, 1926 in Leasburg, Missouri to Waldo and Geneva (Land) Kitchen and passed away on September 6, 2026 at the age of 99 years.
After graduating from Cuba High School in 1943 and attending summer school at SEMO in Cape Girardeau he taught Maple Shade Grade School in 1943-1944.
In January of 1945, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy. After boot camp and service school at Great Lakes, Illinois, he was sent to Camp Elliott in San Diego, California to work in the personnel office. A short time later he was picked to work for Captain J.T. Brewer who soon became the base commander. Lawrence continued to work for Captain Brewer after the closing of Camp Elliott and a move to the Naval Repair base at San Diego. He remained in that position having attained the rank of Yeoman 2nd Class and was discharged on August 26, 1946.
On September 14, 1946 at Highlandville, Missouri he married Ruthene Marie Shults.
Lawrence taught school for three years before driving a truck for Phillips Petroleum distribution to service a large area reaching from Mansfield, Missouri to the Arkansas line. After a year and realizing that time was running out to use his G.I. Bill, he gave up his truck driving job and returned to school, graduating from SMS in 1955 with a BS in Education.
They relocated to Bourbon, Missouri where he worked as elementary principal, eighth grade teacher, bus driver, coach of eighth grade basketball, clock watcher for sporting events for the high school and eighth grades.
After eight years working with Bourbon youth, he took a job in Hazelwood schools in North County St. Louis and remained there till retirement in 1980.
After retirement, he became a substitute rural mail carrier, working for a time with both Bourbon and Sullivan Post offices. Later he became a full-time mail carrier and retired in 1994.
He was an avid blood donor and donor to local charitable events.
Lawrence and Ruthene were members of Calvary Baptist Church in Bourbon for 50 years, where Lawrence served as a Deacon before transferring their membership to First Baptist Church in Stanton.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Ruthene Kitchen; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Rev. Hugh Shults; parents, Waldo and Geneva Kitchen; sister, Berniece (John) Eads; siblings-in-law, Normagene (Gene) Henry and Bernadine (Charles) Kessinger.
He is survived by three children, Ken (Edna) Kitchen of Bay, Missouri, Ron (Candy) Kitchen of Leasburg, Missouri and LaDonna (significant other Robert Rash III) Cain of Washington, Missouri; brother, Elbert (Sandra) Kitchen of Sullivan, Missouri; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026 at the Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory of Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026 at the Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory of Cuba, Missouri with Pastor Melody Pryor.
Interment with military honors followed at Lick Creek Cemetery in Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba, Missouri.
