Valva C. Midkiff, of Lexington, Ky., passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2014. He was born in Fordsville, Ky., on Dec. 9, 1916, the son of the late Heber and Della Greer Midkiff.
When Valva was seven months old, he was diagnosed with polio. This crippling disease presented a lifelong challenge which he overcame with determination. He attended a one room school at Belmont. His father was his first teacher. After fourth grade, he attended school in Fordsville as a boarding student. He graduated from high school in 1935. He was the last surviving member of that class.
Mr. Midkiff is a graduate of Western Kentucky State Teachers College majoring in chemistry and physics. He taught one year at a rural elementary school in Breckinridge County. The next year, he taught at Fordsville High School. The following two years, he taught chemistry at Owensboro High School during World War II. He had the opportunity to move to Lexington in 1943 to do graduate studies. He took a job as a chemist at the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station in the Feeds and Fertilizer Department where he became head of the lab department. Mr. Midkiff retired with a master’s degree in organic chemistry.
Valva was a musician. He learned to play piano and violin at an early age. He and his brothers enjoyed playing string music at community events and family reunions.
Mr. Midkiff was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Dawson Midkiff, and a son, Mark Dawson Midkiff.
He is survived by his son, David Valva Midkiff. David has been his compassionate caretaker for many years. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Daniel, Clay, Mary, Adam, Drew and Lexi Midkiff; his five siblings, Noble and Lincoln Midkiff, of Whitesville, Jim Greer (Opal), of Brandenburg, Esther McCoy and Markley Freer, of Owensboro, plus several nieces and nephews.
Services are 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Chapel of James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro. Burial is in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Magan, Ky., in Ohio County. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, 1100 AG Science N Building, Lexington, Ky. 40546.