Almeda Lappin

Almeda Lappin, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026, at the age of 103.

Born Martha Almeda Dickerson in Enid, Oklahoma, on November 9, 1922, to Esthel Dickerson and Nell Coppock Dickerson, Almeda (as she was known by all) was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Almeda grew up with her parents and her twin brothers, Jack and Bill, on the family farm in Covington, Oklahoma, where her father bred Thoroughbred horses. As a girl, it was her “job” to read Thoroughbred horse publications to research the horses’ blood lines and help her father determine the best breeding choices. This was the start of her life-long love of genealogy. In 1935, the Great Depression ended her father’s breeding business and the family moved to Olathe, Colorado. Almeda was an exceptional student. Upon graduating from high school, she received a full scholarship to the college of her choice and went on to graduate from what is now University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, with a degree in education.

Almeda began her career in 1944 teaching high school in Grand Junction, Colorado, but after only a year she moved to Wichita, Kansas, to take a job as a social worker. Her social work career continued, taking her as far away as Rochester, New York, before settling back in Wichita overseeing child adoptions in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

In 1948, Almeda married Dean Blakemore Lappin at First Methodist Church in downtown Wichita. Dean’s career took the family all over the country with transfers to Dallas, Texas, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Almeda returned to teaching history at the middle and high school level for most of these years. In 1987, they both retired and returned to Wichita to enjoy their retirement surrounded by family and friends.

Almeda dedicated her life to service to her community, and she taught her children and grandchildren the importance of giving back to the community. Almeda was a devoted patriot and even while working full-time with small children, Almeda reported regularly to the United States District Court in each city where she lived to welcome new American citizens and help them register to vote. She was a volunteer with the Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society and the VA Hospital in Wichita where she would help veterans in wheelchairs get around the large hospital. She and Dean deeply enjoyed volunteering weekly at Botanica, The Wichita Garden, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Almeda’s passion for genealogy was always part of her life. She conducted research in libraries, courthouses and even cemeteries. All of her research was gathered by hand from books and courthouse documents – long before the internet existed. She also spent countless hours volunteering her time helping others research their own genealogy. Almeda was active in 12 lineage societies over the years, including Daughters of the American Revolution in which she was a 50+ year member, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. She held leadership positions in most of these organizations over her lifetime.

Almeda was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Dean, as well as her parents and brothers. Almeda is survived by her daughter, Joyce Elizabeth (Jeff) Artz of Wichita, Kansas; her son, Stephen Dean (Kathy) Lappin of Grand Junction, Colorado; her daughter Katherine Almeda Lappin of Phoenix, Arizona; and her daughter Joanne Lappin (Todd) Parker of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Almeda’s life was also filled with the joy of 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Downing & Lahey East located at 6555 E. Central in Wichita on May 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The family invites all who knew Almeda to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Almeda’s memory to Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, 701 Amidon St, Wichita KS, 67203

Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary – East Chapel.