J.R. “Kirk” Kuykendall laid down his clippers for the last time on January 17, two days before his 84th birthday. A member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he leaves behind his wife, Louise Kuykendall, and daughter, Connie Kuykendall, esq., of Stuarts Draft, and his beloved dog, Gremlin.
Born in Petersburg, West Virginia, Kirk was a country boy at heart. He served as a military policeman and drill sergeant in the Army. For 56 years, Kirk entertained customers from behind a barber chair, 33 of which were at Kirk’s Barber Shop in downtown Stuarts Draft.
He was a Renaissance man, trying his hand at farming, small engine repair, locksmithing, coin collecting, refereeing wrestling matches, and woodworking. He loved to hand out his hillbilly woodcrafts to friends, stalk his favorite Dukes of Hazzard star, Ben “Cooter” Jones, and ride around town in his little blue truck.
Kirk wanted folks to remember him as he was in his glory days, without hoopla or crying, so there will be no services. In his memory, friends are invited to sign the guestbook at Reynolds Hamrick in Stuarts Draft on Monday, January 19, 2015 from 9am – 5pm and online or send cards to 183 Cambridge Dr., Stuarts Draft, VA 24477.
