Decatur Herald 3/3/1978
Decatur philanthropist and businesswoman Eva M. Kirkland died at 12:24 p.m. Thursday in Decatur Memorial Hospital. She was 87. "Decatur has lost a good friend, and she will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched," said Anthony J. Perry, hospital president, in announcing Mrs. Kirkland's death. She had been a live-in patient at the hospital for the past few years, Perry said. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in Central Christian Church, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home. Burial, along with private family services, will be Saturday morning in Fairlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Kirkland is well known for her large contributions to Millikin University and Decatur Memorial Hospital. Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the university campus was named for her and her husband, Ernest, who died in 1947. A diagnostic treatment center at the hospital also was named in honor of the couple. Memorials should be sent to the university and hospital, as well as Central Christian Church, YMCA and Zonta International. Perry called Mrs. Kirkland "a kind human being. Her humanitarianism and generosity made possible the Ernest T. and Eva M. Kirkland Diagnostic Treatment Center, dedicated in 1968." In 1965, Mrs. Kirkland donated 6,000 shares of Union Carbide stock to the hospital. The stock at that time had a value of $420,000. Additional gifts to the hospital were made by Mrs. Kirkland through the former Neisler Laboratories Inc., when she was chairman of that firm's board. Mrs. Kirkland took over the reins of that company after the death of her husband, who had been its president. She started with the company as a secretary in 1914. Neisler Laboratories Inc. was acquired in 1965 as a subsidiary of Union Carbide, which in turn sold the laboratories in 1969 to Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. In 1972, Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories Inc. took over the former Neisler firm. Mrs. Kirkland's donations to Millikin University amounted to more than $600,000 in stocks. The biggest chunk more than $500,000 was donated to a building campaign that resulted in the construction of Kirkland Fine Arts Center and Griswold Physical Education Center. "Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Mrs. Eva Kirkland, a gentle, loving woman whose generosity has had such a significant impact on our community," said Dr. J. Roger Miller, president of the university. He noted that "as long as her health permitted, (she) never missed a performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center." When the center opened in 1970. Mrs. Kirkland called it "a gorgeous building. I'm not a bit modest about it. I'm quite proud of it." Mrs. Kirkland studied music at Millikin for a year in 1911. She was honored as alumnus of the year in 1967. At that time, she was cited not only for her contributions to the university, but also for a profit-sharing plan for employees at Neisler Laboratories that was developed during her tenure as chairman of the board. Among the other honors Mrs. Kirkland received was the Sertoma Club's annual service to mankind award in 1966. In 1974, she was given a lifetime membership to the Symphony Orchestra Guild. She also was an honorary member of Decatur Memorial Hospital's Graduate Directors Council. Mrs. Kirkland, formerly of 11 Ewing Place, was born in Monticello, daughter of James and Mary Jane Coberly. She married Ernest T. Kirkland in 1914. She was a member of Central Christian Church and Zonta International. Surviving are a niece, Mrs. Robert (Beverly) Tanzyus, and a nephew, James Coberly, both of Decatur. One daughter and three brothers preceded Mrs. Kirkland in death.
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Decatur philanthropist and businesswoman Eva M. Kirkland died at 12:24 p.m. Thursday in Decatur Memorial Hospital. She was 87. "Decatur has lost a good friend, and she will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched," said Anthony J. Perry, hospital president, in announcing Mrs. Kirkland's death. She had been a live-in patient at the hospital for the past few years, Perry said. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in Central Christian Church, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home. Burial, along with private family services, will be Saturday morning in Fairlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Kirkland is well known for her large contributions to Millikin University and Decatur Memorial Hospital. Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the university campus was named for her and her husband, Ernest, who died in 1947. A diagnostic treatment center at the hospital also was named in honor of the couple. Memorials should be sent to the university and hospital, as well as Central Christian Church, YMCA and Zonta International. Perry called Mrs. Kirkland "a kind human being. Her humanitarianism and generosity made possible the Ernest T. and Eva M. Kirkland Diagnostic Treatment Center, dedicated in 1968." In 1965, Mrs. Kirkland donated 6,000 shares of Union Carbide stock to the hospital. The stock at that time had a value of $420,000. Additional gifts to the hospital were made by Mrs. Kirkland through the former Neisler Laboratories Inc., when she was chairman of that firm's board. Mrs. Kirkland took over the reins of that company after the death of her husband, who had been its president. She started with the company as a secretary in 1914. Neisler Laboratories Inc. was acquired in 1965 as a subsidiary of Union Carbide, which in turn sold the laboratories in 1969 to Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. In 1972, Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories Inc. took over the former Neisler firm. Mrs. Kirkland's donations to Millikin University amounted to more than $600,000 in stocks. The biggest chunk more than $500,000 was donated to a building campaign that resulted in the construction of Kirkland Fine Arts Center and Griswold Physical Education Center. "Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Mrs. Eva Kirkland, a gentle, loving woman whose generosity has had such a significant impact on our community," said Dr. J. Roger Miller, president of the university. He noted that "as long as her health permitted, (she) never missed a performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center." When the center opened in 1970. Mrs. Kirkland called it "a gorgeous building. I'm not a bit modest about it. I'm quite proud of it." Mrs. Kirkland studied music at Millikin for a year in 1911. She was honored as alumnus of the year in 1967. At that time, she was cited not only for her contributions to the university, but also for a profit-sharing plan for employees at Neisler Laboratories that was developed during her tenure as chairman of the board. Among the other honors Mrs. Kirkland received was the Sertoma Club's annual service to mankind award in 1966. In 1974, she was given a lifetime membership to the Symphony Orchestra Guild. She also was an honorary member of Decatur Memorial Hospital's Graduate Directors Council. Mrs. Kirkland, formerly of 11 Ewing Place, was born in Monticello, daughter of James and Mary Jane Coberly. She married Ernest T. Kirkland in 1914. She was a member of Central Christian Church and Zonta International. Surviving are a niece, Mrs. Robert (Beverly) Tanzyus, and a nephew, James Coberly, both of Decatur. One daughter and three brothers preceded Mrs. Kirkland in death.
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Decatur Herald 3/3/1978
Decatur philanthropist and businesswoman Eva M. Kirkland died at 12:24 p.m. Thursday in Decatur Memorial Hospital. She was 87. "Decatur has lost a good friend, and she will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched," said Anthony J. Perry, hospital president, in announcing Mrs. Kirkland's death. She had been a live-in patient at the hospital for the past few years, Perry said. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in Central Christian Church, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home. Burial, along with private family services, will be Saturday morning in Fairlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Kirkland is well known for her large contributions to Millikin University and Decatur Memorial Hospital. Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the university campus was named for her and her husband, Ernest, who died in 1947. A diagnostic treatment center at the hospital also was named in honor of the couple. Memorials should be sent to the university and hospital, as well as Central Christian Church, YMCA and Zonta International. Perry called Mrs. Kirkland "a kind human being. Her humanitarianism and generosity made possible the Ernest T. and Eva M. Kirkland Diagnostic Treatment Center, dedicated in 1968." In 1965, Mrs. Kirkland donated 6,000 shares of Union Carbide stock to the hospital. The stock at that time had a value of $420,000. Additional gifts to the hospital were made by Mrs. Kirkland through the former Neisler Laboratories Inc., when she was chairman of that firm's board. Mrs. Kirkland took over the reins of that company after the death of her husband, who had been its president. She started with the company as a secretary in 1914. Neisler Laboratories Inc. was acquired in 1965 as a subsidiary of Union Carbide, which in turn sold the laboratories in 1969 to Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. In 1972, Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories Inc. took over the former Neisler firm. Mrs. Kirkland's donations to Millikin University amounted to more than $600,000 in stocks. The biggest chunk more than $500,000 was donated to a building campaign that resulted in the construction of Kirkland Fine Arts Center and Griswold Physical Education Center. "Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Mrs. Eva Kirkland, a gentle, loving woman whose generosity has had such a significant impact on our community," said Dr. J. Roger Miller, president of the university. He noted that "as long as her health permitted, (she) never missed a performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center." When the center opened in 1970. Mrs. Kirkland called it "a gorgeous building. I'm not a bit modest about it. I'm quite proud of it." Mrs. Kirkland studied music at Millikin for a year in 1911. She was honored as alumnus of the year in 1967. At that time, she was cited not only for her contributions to the university, but also for a profit-sharing plan for employees at Neisler Laboratories that was developed during her tenure as chairman of the board. Among the other honors Mrs. Kirkland received was the Sertoma Club's annual service to mankind award in 1966. In 1974, she was given a lifetime membership to the Symphony Orchestra Guild. She also was an honorary member of Decatur Memorial Hospital's Graduate Directors Council. Mrs. Kirkland, formerly of 11 Ewing Place, was born in Monticello, daughter of James and Mary Jane Coberly. She married Ernest T. Kirkland in 1914. She was a member of Central Christian Church and Zonta International. Surviving are a niece, Mrs. Robert (Beverly) Tanzyus, and a nephew, James Coberly, both of Decatur. One daughter and three brothers preceded Mrs. Kirkland in death.
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Decatur philanthropist and businesswoman Eva M. Kirkland died at 12:24 p.m. Thursday in Decatur Memorial Hospital. She was 87. "Decatur has lost a good friend, and she will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched," said Anthony J. Perry, hospital president, in announcing Mrs. Kirkland's death. She had been a live-in patient at the hospital for the past few years, Perry said. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in Central Christian Church, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home. Burial, along with private family services, will be Saturday morning in Fairlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Kirkland is well known for her large contributions to Millikin University and Decatur Memorial Hospital. Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the university campus was named for her and her husband, Ernest, who died in 1947. A diagnostic treatment center at the hospital also was named in honor of the couple. Memorials should be sent to the university and hospital, as well as Central Christian Church, YMCA and Zonta International. Perry called Mrs. Kirkland "a kind human being. Her humanitarianism and generosity made possible the Ernest T. and Eva M. Kirkland Diagnostic Treatment Center, dedicated in 1968." In 1965, Mrs. Kirkland donated 6,000 shares of Union Carbide stock to the hospital. The stock at that time had a value of $420,000. Additional gifts to the hospital were made by Mrs. Kirkland through the former Neisler Laboratories Inc., when she was chairman of that firm's board. Mrs. Kirkland took over the reins of that company after the death of her husband, who had been its president. She started with the company as a secretary in 1914. Neisler Laboratories Inc. was acquired in 1965 as a subsidiary of Union Carbide, which in turn sold the laboratories in 1969 to Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. In 1972, Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories Inc. took over the former Neisler firm. Mrs. Kirkland's donations to Millikin University amounted to more than $600,000 in stocks. The biggest chunk more than $500,000 was donated to a building campaign that resulted in the construction of Kirkland Fine Arts Center and Griswold Physical Education Center. "Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Mrs. Eva Kirkland, a gentle, loving woman whose generosity has had such a significant impact on our community," said Dr. J. Roger Miller, president of the university. He noted that "as long as her health permitted, (she) never missed a performance at Kirkland Fine Arts Center." When the center opened in 1970. Mrs. Kirkland called it "a gorgeous building. I'm not a bit modest about it. I'm quite proud of it." Mrs. Kirkland studied music at Millikin for a year in 1911. She was honored as alumnus of the year in 1967. At that time, she was cited not only for her contributions to the university, but also for a profit-sharing plan for employees at Neisler Laboratories that was developed during her tenure as chairman of the board. Among the other honors Mrs. Kirkland received was the Sertoma Club's annual service to mankind award in 1966. In 1974, she was given a lifetime membership to the Symphony Orchestra Guild. She also was an honorary member of Decatur Memorial Hospital's Graduate Directors Council. Mrs. Kirkland, formerly of 11 Ewing Place, was born in Monticello, daughter of James and Mary Jane Coberly. She married Ernest T. Kirkland in 1914. She was a member of Central Christian Church and Zonta International. Surviving are a niece, Mrs. Robert (Beverly) Tanzyus, and a nephew, James Coberly, both of Decatur. One daughter and three brothers preceded Mrs. Kirkland in death.
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