Phillip Edward Kirkpatrick

Phillip Edward Kirkpatrick, age 34, of Austin, Texas, died on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, in Austin, Texas. He was born on March 8, 1981 in Beaumont, Texas to David Charles and Mary Campbell Yates Kirkpatrick.

Phillip graduated from West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas. He was employed by Harte-Hanks, Inc. and Tangoe Telecommunications Service Provider.

Phillip had a long abiding passion in computers and technology that started in his first job at TX-IS in Beaumont, Texas. He ran his own BBS (Bulletin Board System) for several years during his sophomore through senior years in high school, where users played online games. He loved all things to do with computers and technology and frequently put systems together for his friends' parents and grandparents, as well as their sisters, and their cousins, and their aunts. In addition, he had a deep intellect fed by a lifelong love of reading. One of his favorite authors was William Gibson, coiner of the word cyberspace, and author of many cyberpunk novels. Other favorite authors were Neal Stephenson, whose work has sometimes been classified as post cyberpunk and other favorite authors were, Charles Stross, and China Mieville; Phil enjoyed many other authors and genres, especially philosophy. While he seldom had many takers, he enjoyed debating Pascal's Wager with additional insights. Discussions and free-flowing debates were among Phil's favorite activities. Like his Grammy before him, Phil was something of an oracle, and something of a live Wikipedia. If someone wanted to know something, they asked Phil. He knew a lot about nearly everything. Watching movies was another great pastime of Phil's, and one of his favorite directors was Wes Anderson. Phil knew plots, actors, characterizations, themes and memes for a diverse collection of movies and directors. He built various model cars and airplanes throughout his life, and found great fun in flying drones and copters in later years. He also enjoyed travel, hiking, camping, cooking, and barbecuing. He could fry a great turkey! Over the last three years, Phil developed an interest in propagating succulents and cacti. He loved to place Lego men and zombie figures in the plants and terrariums he made.

Phil was preceded in death by Reed H. Yates, Jr., maternal grandfather; Chuck D. Kirkpatrick, paternal grandfather; Mildred Campbell Yates, maternal grandmother; Frances M. Kirkpatrick paternal grandmother and aunt Yvonne Miller. He is survived by his mother, Mary Kirkpatrick, father David Kirkpatrick; and step-mother, Carolyn Kirkpatrick; brother Charles Reed Kirkpatrick; sisters, Bethany Kirkpatrick Roehm, Marissa Fortune, and Megan Fortune; and by numerous cousins.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress, Austin, Texas 78704.

Memorial services will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2016 at Zilker Park Botanical Gardens, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78746, with Rev. Jim Van Meter officiating.

Memorial Donations may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association or the Alzheimer's Association.