Janice Fenn Alexander Kitchen died peacefully at her home on November 10, 2019 at age 88. She was born October 25, 1931 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Donald B. and Fenn Caffey Alexander.
Jan started playing the piano at age four. She studied music at Texas State College for Women and then at the University of Oklahoma where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music. While at the university, she provided piano accompaniment for several noted musical performers, many of whom remained her lifelong friends.
After graduation in 1952, she lived in Little Rock with her parents and sister until March 1954, when she accepted a position in Washington, D. C. in the office of Senator John McClellan of Arkansas. There, she served as secetary to the senator’s Chief of Staff, Ralph Matthews during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
Shortly after arriving in Washington, Jan met her future husband, William (Bill) A. Kitchen, who at that time was an aide to Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri. They were married on July 24, 1953 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the First Christian Church. They moved frequently due to Bill’s job as an FBI agent, and lived in Kansas City, Mo before moving to Paducah in 1974.
Throughout her life, Jan continued her dedication to music, serving as organist at the First Church of Christ Science and providing piano music for church activities at the Lone Oak United Methodist Church, and the musical group Shelter.
Jan is survived by her husband of 64 years, Judge William A. Kitchen; her son, Judge Tony (Victoria) Kitchen, her daughter, Becky Kitchen; and four grandchildren, Will (Lauren) Kitchen, Ben Kitchen, Sam Kitchen, and Meg Kitchen.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Donna Alexander Summers.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah with Rev. Rick Dye officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until the service time at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Pets for vets at www.petsforvets.com .
You may leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
