Tona Marie Romeo Kirkham, 68 of Lowell, WV passed away Tuesday Feb. 8, 2022 at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA from a sudden illness.

Born Sept. 19, 1953 in Welch, WV she was the daughter of Mitzi Mosko Romeo of Bluefield and the late Tony Romeo.

Tona was a 1971 graduate of Welch High School. She was a cheerleader at Welch and an avid sports fan. She graduated from Concord College in 1975 and was a cheerleader there as well. She also met her husband of 47 years at Concord, Norman Lowell Kirkham, who loved her heart and soul. They met in the student union at a "Back Alley Bridge" tournament and as a team, remained undefeated for an entire semester. They were so entuned with each other, they got married.

She became a schoolteacher in Summers County and taught for 37 years at Pence Springs and Talcott schools and developed a deep affection for the children and parents of both schools. Tona was a cheerleading coach at Talcott where her squads won many awards. Tona loved to travel, was a master gardener of both flowers and vegetables and was a phenomenal cook. She also loved old movies and 1940s music. As a reading teacher, she loved good books and had an extensive library. She was a devout Catholic Christian and will be sorely missed by her family, her community and her little beagle, Millie.

She was preceded in death by her father, Tony J. Romeo; beloved son, Craig Kirkham and daughter-in-law, Rachel Kirkham.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Norman Lowell Kirkham; one daughter, Laura Caldwell and two grandchildren, Brooklyn and Kobe Caldwell, all of Lowell, WV; mother, Mitzi Romeo of Bluefield, WV; three brothers, Mike Romeo (Sandy) of Bluefield, WV, Anthony Romeo (Anne) of Covington, KY and Nick Romeo (Jennifer) of Canton, OH; one sister, Libby Blasingane (Randy) of Wilmington, NC; numerous nieces and nephews and cousins also survive.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday February 14, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton with Fr. Romeo Bicalso, SVD and Fr. Arthur Bufogle concelebrating. Rite of Committal will follow in Keller Church Cemetery at Lowell. Friends may call from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday evening at Pivont Funeral Home in Hinton where a Rosary prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m.