Arthur William Kirk

"I'm Arthur Kirk - If we meet and you forget me, you have lost nothing, but if you meet Jesus Christ and forget him, you have lost everything." This is the opening sentence to a card Arthur handed out. On the reverse side the cards said, "Please, Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and nudge me when I've said enough!"

Arthur William Kirk, 83, of Odessa passed Wednesday, June 25, 2014. He was born July 20, 1930 in Tipton, Oklahoma to Daniel Nathan Kirk & Lillian Augusta (Albright) Kirk. He married Helen Walker 59 years ago on December 19, 1954, at Northside Baptist Church, Odessa, where he was a member, with the late Rev. W. I. Lee officiating.

In 1964, he moved to Las Vegas, NV with Western/Loffland Brothers Drilling Co, and worked at the Atomic Energy Commission's nuclear test site outside of Las Vegas, where he welded on one of the cases in which a test bomb was placed. He returned to Odessa in 1972 as a self- employed welder. Art later worked as a truck driver, particularly for PEP, until his retirement.

Arthur's lifelong love for others and his friendly demeanor is a testimony to the Lord Jesus that he served. He handed out more than 1000 of the cards which included the opening sentences of this life testimony or some variant of that message.

He first served as a deacon for Calvary Baptist Church, Farmington, NM in 1959, and subsequently for Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Las Vegas, NV, and Northside Baptist Church in Odessa.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Kirk; brothers Frank, Jackie, & Bryant Kirk; sisters Helen Musick, Annette Knight, & Lola Kirkpatrick.

He is survived by his wife Helen Walker Kirk of Odessa; (3) sons, Victor Kirk & wife Michelle of Dripping Springs, TX, Kenneth Kirk & wife Julie of Saudi Arabia, Douglas Kirk of Ft Worth; daughter, Paula Damron & husband Eric of Odessa, brothers, George Kirk of Neosho, MO, Steven Kirk of Odessa, sister, Dottie Henderson of Quemado, NM; (4) grandchildren, Autumn DeMarco, Zariah Kirk, Kenda Watt, & Jessica Kirk; (5) great-grandchildren, Belize DeMarco, Enzo DeMarco, Finnan Watt, Scarlett Watt, & Oliver Watt.

A visitation with family and friends will be 6 – 8 pm Friday, June 27, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday June 28, 2014 at Northside Baptist Church with Rev. Clydel Chapman officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Missions Fund at Northside Baptist Church.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.