Luella M. Birks

Moline, Illinois
Luella M. Birks, 100, of Moline, Illinois, former civic leader, died Saturday, May 25, 2013, in her home at Bickford Cottage, Moline.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline, with The Reverend Robb McCoy officiating. Burial is in Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island. Visitation is one hour before the services. Memorials may be made to the church or a favorite charity. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is in charge of arrangements.
The former Luella Mae Bolen was born January 5, 1913, in Leaf River, Illinois, to Charles W. and Bessie V. Huff Bolen. She graduated from Rockford High School, Rockford, Illinois, and married Ralph B. Birks on April 18, 1931, in Leaf River. He died February 7, 1998. Lu was employed by the City of Moline Park Department as Director of the Moline Senior Center from 1965 until her retirement in 1982.
She had been an active member of Riverside United Methodist Church for 70 years, where she was Lay Leader, a member of the Board of Trustees, served on several committees, and was a member of United Methodist Women. She was president of the Woman?s Club of Moline, Chairman of it?s Garden Department #6, and committee member. She was a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Ridgecrest Retirement Village, Davenport, for over 20 years; a member of the Board of Directors of Community Nursing Services of Moline, East Moline, Silvis, and Carbon Cliff; a member of the Moline American Revolution Bi-Centennial Commission; and a member of Silver Cross Circle of King?s Daughters, Moline Public Hospital Auxiliary, Rock Island County Historical Society, and Rock Island County Mental Health Association.
Lu is survived by two sisters, Donna Kostka of Isanti, Minnesota, and Delores Flanders of Tucson, Arizona; nieces and nephews, Richard Middleton, Tim and Deborah Kostka, Tom and Chris Kostka, Dan and Shelley Kostka, Karen and Mike Phelan, Patty Flanders, Steve and Lory Flanders, Linda and Jerry Findley, and Sharron Hackenburg, and their families; and a special friend, Lynn Kingman and her husband Jim and their family, of Moline. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; a son in infancy, two sisters, one brother, and a niece.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.