Frances Alma Newkirk Reber

Frances Alma Newkirk Reber, 93, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2009 at the Presbyterian Manor where she had been a resident for the past five years. She was born on December 25, 1915 in Geneseo, Rice County, Kansas the oldest of four children born to Clare and Alice Newkirk. She attended local schools there and also attended Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan where she graduated in 1940 with a degree in Home Economics. While in Manhattan, she met Matthew Allen Reber and they were married on July 7, 1940. Being the wife of a Petroleum Engineer for Cities Service Petroleum Co., they resided in many states in the Midwest. Because of employment changes, they also lived overseas in Oman, Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Upon retirement in 1981, they settled in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Later they moved to Grove, Oklahoma where they lived for several years. Mr. Reber passed away on March 8, 1990. Due to health reasons, Mrs. Reber moved to Topeka in September of 2004 and resided at the Presbyterian Manor until her death. Besides her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and one brother. Survivors include many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Private burial will take place in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas. Mrs. Reber will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The casket will remain closed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the organization of the donor's choice.