Helen “Lucille” Kinnick

February 27, 1886 – December 16, 1962

Helen “Lucille” Kinnick, 76, of 2315 NW 12, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma died Sunday in Wesley Hospital.

Born in Adel, Iowa on February 27, 1886, she was the daughter of John Thomas and Jennie Edith Weeks Kinnick. Her family came to Perry at the opening of the Cherokee Outlet. She received her early schooling in Perry and graduated from Perry high school in 1904. She continued her education at the state teachers’ college of Kearney, Nebraska, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and made a specialty of teachers’ training work.

Her career began as a teacher in rural schools, followed by instructing at the Perry grade school, to the principal-ship of city schools. She also served four years as critic and special aid teacher in the city normal of Sioux City, Iowa and the U. S. Indian Service. By 1920 she was serving as the head of the Normal Training department of Perry High School. The following year she ran on the republican ticket for the position of Noble County School Superintendent. She won the election and assumed her duties on July 1, 1923.

Lucille served as Noble County school superintendent for two years, before enrolling at Columnbia university in New York City to work on her master’s decree. Following her time in New York, she moved to New Mexico where she served as supervisor of Indian education in the southwest.

She was a member of the Christian church.

Surviving are three brothers: F. G. Kinnick, 1900 S. Central, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; John C., Garland, Texas; and Carleton Van, Bixby, Oklahoma.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Smith & Kernke, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.