Lila Fritschen

Lila Fritschen (Chockley) passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018 at her home in Fort Worth, Texas.

Born September 30, 1937 in Beaver, Oklahoma; Lila grew up in Wilson, Kansas where she graduated from Wilson High School. She married Richard Fritschen on September 29, 1956. Together, they started their educational careers by completing their Bachelor’s degrees at Fort Hays State University while teaching full time at county schools such as Shannon School, which was a one room school for Grades K-8. With degrees completed, Lila taught in Scott City, Kansas; Wamego, Kansas and completed her career in Hutchinson, Kansas where she taught at Sherman Jr High, was principal at Sherman Jr High and Liberty Jr High. She was given the responsibility of joining the Junior highs as one while the two new buildings were built then redistributing the staff and students to the new HMS 7 and HMS 8. During her teaching career she led the Hutchinson-NEA, the Kansas State NEA and participated on the national level before becoming an administrator. She also traveled with the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corp in the early 1970’s with her husband and daughter.

After retiring, she managed the Sylvan Learning Center and then became the Human Relations Director for the City of Hutchinson. She also sang with the Hutchinson Sweet Adelines and had many adventures with a very small group of friends, many of which will be remembered in conversations for years to come.

Lila will be remembered by students, staff, clients and neighbors as a person who did not care where you came from, what color your skin or what your educational level; but cared how she could help a person become the best version of themselves.

Preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her parents and her sister.

Survived by her daughter, Joan Fritschen Manning; grandson, Chris Michaels; granddaughter, Jennifer Kennell and her husband Nathan; great-grandchildren, Kaylina Michaels, Lila Michaels, Alex Kennell and Sarah Kennell, and great-great granddaughter Cora. She also had many who cared about her and are a part of our family: Whitney Mosley and her children, Lorelai, Leo and Lily along with friends here in Texas and across Kansas who will remember her.

As was her wish, she will be cremated. She will be interred at the Dorrance Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

An open house will be held at the Wild Rose Heritage Center in Keller on Saturday December 1 from 3:00-5:00pm in her honor. She had begun to volunteer there a few months ago and enjoyed the company of other ex-educators. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wild Rose Heritage Center, 133 Bates Street, Keller, TX 76248.