Dr. Kirkpatrick

Waynesville-Dr. Charles Edward Kirkpatrick, Retired Major, US Army, died on October 29, 2005 in Frankfurt, Germany. He was a native of Haywood County and was the son of the late James E. and Charlotte Love Kirkpatrick. He was a 1965 graduate of Sylva Webster High School. He attended Western Carolina University and received his BA degree from Wake Forest University in 1969 and his MA degree in 1970. He also received a PhD from Emory University. While in college, he joined ROTC and went on active duty in 1971. He served in the US Army for 20 years and 12 days, retiring in 1991 with the rank of Major. During his service, he received a Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star. Following his military career, he became a professional public historian for the US Army, first at the Center for Military History in Washington, DC and then with V Corps in Germany. He taught for four years at West Point and published three books and currently has two books awaiting publication. He also attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Carol Cunningham Kirkpatrick; one daughter, 2nd Lt. Celia Irene Kirkpatrick of El Paso, TX; and one brother, Thomas W. Kirkpatrick and his wife, Pat, of Clyde. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2005 at Crabtree United Methodist Church. Reverend Kathleen McAbee and Reverend Jim Bob Reeves will officiate. Interment will be at Dawn Memory Garden with full military rites conducted by a detachment from Ft. Bragg, NC. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 10:45 on Thursday prior to the services at the church. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be George, Bud, Kevin, and Keith Kirkpatrick, Willis Crane, Arthur Moon, Robert Coleman, and Tony Rutz. Memorials may be made to the Amyloidosis Research Foundation, 4174 Meyers Avenue, Waterford, MI 48329 or Crabtree United Methodist Church Building Fund, 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde, NC 28721.

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