GREENWOOD
James A. “Jim” Kirkham, 88, of Greenwood, IN passed away Monday, January 1, 2024, at Aspen Trace Health and Living in Greenwood, IN.
He was born June 18, 1935, in Fountainhead, Tennessee to Shirley Barnes Kirkham and Ovida Redempta (Burnsby) Kirkham. He married Shirley A. (Clouse) Kirkham on September 3, 1954, in Indianapolis, IN, she survives.
Jim was a 1954 graduate of Emmerich Manual High School in Indianapolis, IN.
He was the owner and operator of Ace Battery in Indianapolis from 1960 until 2006. He previously had been a salesperson for a chewing gum supplier in Indianapolis.
Jim was a member of Rocklane Christian Church in Greenwood, IN where he had served as a church elder and deacon, a former member of Monument Masonic Lodge 657 and Centre Masonic Lodge 23 in Indianapolis, IN, having been a Past Master and was a current member of Greenwood Masonic Lodge 514, Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite, Murat Shrine and Johnson County Shrine Club.
He was a member of the Indiana Horseman’s Hall of Fame. Jim was a driving force in the equine industry for 40 years. Jim purchased his first Shetland pony in the early 1960’s and that was all it took. He started showing roadster pony classes but turned those duties off to his wife’s brother and sister. Later the Kirkham children could be seen in the show ring representing the Kirkham family. As the kids grew older and wanted to ride, Jim purchased them all Pony of America’s. This meant that every weekend in the summer was spent traveling to Indiana Saddle Horse Association shows. When the children graduated from high school, in came time for Jim’s wife to show. Jim bought his wife Shirley a harness pony that showed for 10 years. Throughout the years, Jim had served behind the scenes for numerous equine activities. He was charter member of the Indiana Pony Exhibitors Association, an organization that promoted pony shows in the state. He also served numerous terms as President and Director of that organization. In 1972, the International Pony of America show that was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Jim served as chairperson at that event.
Jim had also served as President of the Indiana Saddle Horse Association (a multibreed organization) on numerous occasions. When that organization came on financial difficulties, Jim led them through the troubled times.
Since the inception of the Indiana Horse Council, Jim was an active participant having served as treasurer of that organization. The Indiana Horse Council promoted one of the largest horse fairs in the United States. When the Pam Am Games were held in Indianapolis, Jim was chairperson of the equine fund-raising committee, traveling the state raising funds to develop the Hoosier Horse Park in Johnson County, which became known as one the nicest show facilities in the state of Indiana.
Jim had been actively involved with the All-American Horse Classic. You could have seen him serving food at exhibitor’s parties and overseeing a group of Scouts collecting tickets. When there was a job to be done, Jim was always there to do it.
He was a former 4-H leader of the Johnson County Horse and Pony Club, former member of the Johnson County 4-H and Agricultural Fair Board, had been a ringmaster for the Indiana State Fair Horse and Pony Competition for 40 years, was the first male president of the PTO at Clark Township Elementary School and was currently serving on the Johnson County Park Board.
Jim enjoyed spending time on the family farm in Gallatin, Tennessee and their farm in Clark Township in Johnson County.
Survivors include his loving wife of 69 years Shirley A. (Clouse) Kirkham of Greenwood, IN, his daughter Denise A. “Dee” Kirkham of Greenwood, IN, sons James A. “Jay” Kirkham (Pam) of Greenwood, IN and Hugh A. Kirkham (Nancy) of Greenwood, IN, his grandchildren Larry “LJ” Carroll, Danielle Rush (Brandon), Christopher Kirkham (Susan), Matthew Kirkham (Brittany) and Michael Kirkham (Mandi), his great-grandchildren Alexis Henry, Bailey Kirkham, Aislynn Carroll, Braydon Rush, Mae Kirkham, Carter Rush, Brooke Kirkham and Beckett Kirkham, a sister Virginia Mae Shepherd of Indianapolis, IN, brothers Melvin Eugene Kirkham (Betty) of Goodlettsville, TN and John Emerson “Jackie” Kirkham (Becky) of Noblesville, IN and several nieces, nephew, and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother Max Ray Kirkham, brothers Glenn Ray Kirkham and Joseph Kirkham, sisters Margaret Christine Barker and Barbara Jean Clouse.
Pastor Seth Amerine will conduct a service on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 11AM at Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 East Rocklane Road Greenwood, IN. Friends may call Friday, January 19, 2024, from 4PM until 8PM at the church where the Greenwood Masonic Lodge 514 will conduct a masonic service at 7:45PM. Burial will follow the service on Saturday at Rocklane Cemetery in Greenwood, IN.
Memorial contributions are encouraged to be made to the Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 East Rocklane Road, Greenwood, IN 46143 attention youth fund, or the Indiana Horse Council Foundation Inc., Communication Building, 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205-2869 or at www.indianahorsecouncilfoundation.org.
Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
