Born in Knoxville, TN, on September 14, 1933, Ron attended schools in both Knoxville and Oak Ridge, and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1950. Ron attended both the University of Tennessee, and the United States Naval Academy.
Upon graduation in 1958, Ron served as an Engineering Officer on several ships throughout his Naval Career. In Civil Service from 1966 to 1973, he was Head of the Engineering Branch Quality Assurance Dept at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, VA. Returning to Tennessee in 1973, Ron then spent 11 years as a Chief Quality Engineer for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant for TVA in Oak Ridge.
Ron was later self-employed as an Engineering Consultant, and as a photographer. His 50-year love of photography was his great joy, and he turned it into a business, taking team and sports action pictures for Powell High School, as well as photographing local models in the Knoxville area.
He spent his retirement years with several four-legged companions. He was a benefactor for the local animal shelter, Young Williams, as well as several local young people. He also sponsored children abroad through World Vision.
Ron was preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Kirk Gambacorta, both his adoptive father, James Henry Kirk, and his birth father, Roscoe C. Word, and his mother, Julia Briscoe Kirk. He is survived by his sister, Julia Kirk Phillips, his son, James Franklin Kirk, his daughter, Marianne Kirk Fallen, his grandchildren, many nieces, a nephew, and several grandnieces and a grandnephew.
A Memorial Service is planned for May 1st at 11:00 a.m. at Berry Highland West in Knoxville. The family has requested that all those who plan to attend adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear facial coverings. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Young Williams Animal Center.
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