Fred C. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Kirkpatrick retired after 80 years association with Fort Smith Coca-Cola Bottling Company as Operations Manager, Consultant, and Curator of the Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia, which he originated and developed. He also, in the last three years, created the Archives Room containing exhibits depicting the history of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Fort Smith.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Aldersgate Sunday School Class. He was a World War II veteran, serving with a unit of the 3rd Army in Europe for more than two years and was awarded five Bronze Stars for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns.

Fred was a 1992 recipient of the Social Studies Educators Frontier Achievement Award, member of the American Legion Post 31 and was a Life Member of the American Philatelic Society, as well as a past member of the Noon Lions Club.

In past years, he was active in the Boy Scouts, serving as Cub master at Rogers Elementary School and as Post Advisor of Explorer Post 2 at First Methodist Church and a 1962 recipient of the Scouter’s Key Award. He was also active in the early years of the Church league Baseball program, serving as a coach for several years.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary Beth Kirkpatrick; and a brother, Kenneth Kirkpatrick of Longview, Texas.

Survivors are two daughters, Beth Janes (Randy) of Fort Smith, Lynn Franquemont (Jim) of Little Rock; and a son, Judge Fred Kirkpatrick (Mary) of Harrison; a sister, Gail Tompkins of Little Rock; seven grandchildren: Greg Kirkpatrick of North Little Rock, Elizabeth Stephens (Wendell) of Harrison, Katie Bell (Adam) of Harrison, Ellen Mufti (Yusuf) of Cranford, New Jersey, Karen Sher of West Hartford, Connecticut, Lindsey Lamb (Ben) of Little Rock, Matthew Vigneault (Alison) of Little Rock; six great-grandchildren: Garrett Kirkpatrick, Alexandra Wilkinson (Ryan), Michael Stephens, Anna Mufti, Mesha Mcaway, Nicole Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Benny Lamb and Madison Lamb.

Visitation with friends and family will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 6th in the Narthex at First United Methodist Church at 200 N. 15th Street with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m. in Roebuck Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Memorials can be made to The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center for Children, 3304 South M Street, Fort Smith, AR 72903 or the Fred Kirkpatrick/Coca-Cola Scholarship Fund, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

To leave an online memory, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com