Arrangements unJohn Eugene “Gene” Kirk passed away January 10, 2014 at home surrounded by friends and family. He was 95 years old. He was born to John Alexander Kirk and Cora Suther Kirk in Newell, North Carolina where he grew up on a farm and remained a farmer throughout his working life. He graduated from Newell High School where he played basketball. After high school, he attended Lees McCrae College but left school when his father broke his back and he was needed to work on the farm. During this time, he became a county agent working with cotton allotments. One week before the Pearl Harbor attack he was drafted into the US Army, the first group from Mecklenburg County. He eventually landed in Europe 6 days after D-Day. He was a First Sargent in the 644th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Gene was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry for saving the crew of a tank caught in a tank trap. He also received a bronze star for saving fellow soldiers from a burning tank. Gene was awarded the Belgian Fourragere and the Legion of Honor from the French government. His unit also received a Presidential Citation and Five Battle Stars.
He became a rural letter carrier and carried the mail until he retired. He then became president of the North Carolina Rural Letter Carriers Association. After getting up early and delivering the mail he would come home change clothes and work on the farm until dark and sometimes later. He was awarded a plaque from the Postal Service for having driven 1,000,000 miles accident free.
Gene was a founding member of the Newell Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member for 37 years protecting his neighbor’s homes and lives. He served as chief of the Newell Volunteer Fire Department for 7 years. After he retired from the US Postal Service, he began to volunteer for the American Red Cross traveling around the country to earthquakes, floods and tornados helping those in need. He also delivered blood for the Red Cross throughout the region.
He was a life-long member of Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church serving as an elder for 60 years. He was always there anytime the church needed help or just stopping by to visit. One pastor said that when a person visited Mallard Creek that Gene Kirk usually beat him there for a visit. He was always at the Mallard Creek Barbeque except for WWII and the last few years. He also spent many years cooking for the youth of the church on Wednesday nights.
He was married Edith Bennett Kirk in 1947 and built his own home across the street from where he was born. They spent 66 years together. They had one son, John Bennett Kirk. They were devoted to each other and the only time they spent apart was during hospital stays. Both developed a love for travel and visited 6 of 7 continents and over 100 countries. They also visited each of the 24 time zones of the world.
He is survived by his wife Edith B. Kirk and son, John Bennett Kirk and John’s wife Lory and their children Breanna, Margaret and Gloria. He is also survived by; his brothers Harry and Bill Kirk, sister Sara Louise Killian and sister-in-law Gloria McClintock. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great-great nieces and nephews.
Pall Bearers will be James Killian, Don Killian, Kirk Killian, Harry Kirk Jr., James Harry Killian Jr and Kevin Kirk
The funeral service will be 11:00a.m., Monday, January 13 at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., Sunday evening at McEwen Funeral Service, Derita Chapel.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences may be made at www.mcewenderitachapel.com.
der the direction of McEwen Funeral Service-Derita Chapel, Charlotte, NC.
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