Richard Samuel Gilkison, 73, of Effingham, Kansas, passed away on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was born on June 13, 1944 in Cummings, Kansas, the son of Arthur James and Louise Ebbrecht Gilkison.

Rich earned his teaching degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. He was a dairy farmer for 15 years before returning to teaching. He was a teacher and coach at A.C.C.H.S for 2 years before going to work for the Everest Middle School where he was a math and PE teacher for 16 years before retiring.

Richard was a member of the St. Leo's Catholic Church in Horton, Kansas. On August 3, 1968 he married Susan Bechtold at St. Leo's Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Susan Gilkison of the home, Effingham, Kansas; 4 daughters, Beth (Jason) Haden of Ashburn, Virginia, Julie (Chris) Lockwood of Horton, Kansas, Angie (Eric) Becker of Augusta, Kansas and Dana Tolbert of St. Joseph, Missouri; son, Arthur Gilkison (Darren Bell), of Denver, Colorado; 6 sisters, Wanda Nelson of Glendale, Arizona, Mary Kout of Hiawatha, Kansas, Crystelle Barnett of Holton, Kansas, Sarah Clark of Glendale, Arizona, Faith Smith of Foster City, California and Barbara Chase of Glendale, Arizona; 10 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Tom Gilkison and a sister, Jacqueline McConnell.

A rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas where the family will greet friends following the rosary until 8:00 P.M.

Funeral mass will be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the St. Leo's Catholic Church in Horton, Kansas. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to the Horton Weight Room or the Effingham Meals on Wheels Program and may be sent in care of the mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com