Annie "Pearl" Kirchner

Annie "Pearl" Kirchner, 81, of Louisville passed away peacefully Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital with the love of her family present. She leaves behind her deeply loving husband of 58 years, Eugene; a daughter, Linda Ulanday (Joe) of Lexington; and three sons, James (Beverly) and Stephen (Betty) both of Louisville, and David, of Birmingham, Ala. She has four cherished grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Pearl was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Glasgow, Ky., the second-youngest of 14 children of James and Dora Clark. Only one brother, Ronal Clark (Frooze) of Ocala, Fla., survives. Pearl and Gene met in Crothersville, Ind., where he was working for the Courier-Journal's Circulation department. She enjoyed life as a devoted wife and mother who sat through many kids' ballgames; cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner nearly everyday; and created a warm, loving household. She also was an active sportswoman who became one of Louisville's top bowlers in the 1960s and 70s, competing in leagues until she was 77 and no longer could. Upon winning numerous bowling tournaments, Pearl often donated some of her prize money to her church -- St. Helen Catholic Church and later Most Blessed Sacrament -- and other charities. She was inducted into the Louisville Woman's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. She also was a city horseshoe-pitching champion in the 1960s. After raising her family, Pearl became the day manager at Louisville's Executive Bowl and helped organize and coach one of the city's largest youth bowling leagues, reflecting her love of children. She made friends throughout the bowling community -- everybody knew Pearl -- until she retired in 1991 after 14 years at Executive. Besides sports, she particularly enjoyed traveling, flower gardening, music boxes, dancing, long walks in her neighborhood and was a terrific country cook who welcomed large family gatherings. She also embraced the spirit of Christmas and the sparkle of its decorations, once even winning her Cloverleaf neighborhood's door-decorating contest. Pearl lived her final 2 1/2 years at Park Terrace nursing home as Alzheimer's slowed her mind and body but certainly not her spirit. The family would like to thank her friends there for such loving care. Funeral Mass will be 10 am Thursday at Most Blessed Sacrament, 3509 Taylor Blvd. with entombment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-9 pm Tuesday and 1-9 pm Wednesday at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association or one’s favorite charity.