Richard T. Sgt. Kirk

Richard T. Kirk passed away peacefully at the age of 62 on May 20, 2006, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born August 29, 1943, in Oklahoma and raised in Great Bend, Kansas, where he completed high school in 1961. He enlisted in the Army in 1963 completing basic training, and AIT at Fort Polk, LA. He completed airborne school at Fort Benning, GA and was assigned to Head Quarters, 2nd Battalion, 101st Airborne Division as a communications specialist. In April 1965, he was re-assigned to 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment Airborne C Company, and deployed to Vietnam. In August 1965, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge. In October 1965, he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. He was medically retired from military service in 1966 at the rank of Sergeant.

Upon leaving the military, Richard attended Texas Lutheran College, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. He went on to work for the Internal Revenue Service where he served as a Senior Excise/Employment Tax Specialist, teacher, coach and mentor and retired in 2000 after 27 years of service.

Richard was a co-owner in a real estate company in Austin, TX from 1988 until 1997. He also enjoyed woodworking, traveling and investments.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Kirk and his mother, Dorothy Kirk.

He is survived by 2 sons, Bryan Kirk of Seguin, TX and Jeffrey Kirk and his wife, Sandra, of Ft. Jackson, SC; 3 granddaughters, Gabrielle Kirk, Sarah Kirk and Jennifer Kirk of San Antonio, TX; a grandson, Josh Sierra of West Palm Beach, FL; 2 sisters, Delores, wife of Lee Williams of Hugoton, KS and Donna, wife of George Bolz of Bushton, KS; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many loyal friends.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center and A-Med Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to A-Med Hospice, 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 242 South, Austin, TX, 78757.