Richard Lloyd Kirkpatrick, 79
Richard Lloyd Kirkpatrick, 79, "joined with the Lord and his beloved Geraldine," on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005. Dad was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Kalispell, to Warren and Vivian (O'Leary) Kirkpatrick. Richard completed his primary and secondary education while being raised in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead County High School.
After serving his country for a short period, Richard attended Montana State University and acquired his civil engineering degree. On Feb. 2, 1952, Richard was married to Geraldine Lenore Richardson and enjoyed 38 years of togetherness.
With two of their seven children born, they moved from Casper, Wyo., to Anacortes, Wash., in 1956. Here Richard hired on with Texaco as a civil engineer for which he carried out a 33-year career and retired with great honors. Undeniably his greatest career achievement was his engineering and directing the construction of Texaco's Coker Unit, which now provides many Anacortes residents with jobs and security. His diligence, creativity, and lack of fear to try new technologies on the Coker Project, secured Texaco's Anacortes refineries future for many years to come.
An assertive mathematician, he also was responsible for surveying much of the greater Anacortes area. For the last 50 years, never did a summer pass without multiple fishing trips to Tuttle Cove. Pioneered and developed by Richard and his buddies, Tuttle Cove Fishing Society was where he loved to be. All who have traveled on these fishing trips with Richard know how valuable he was in creating and maintaining a fishing camp that will live on for several generations. None so precious of words that "Daylight in the Swamp!"
Richard was responsible for starting up a college baseball program at Montana State University and played semipro baseball himself for a few years.
A bowler, golfer, and dad; his family was his life. Raising seven kids over several decades, he was all about family. He passed up many career financial opportunities to preserve the stability of his family here in the Pacific Northwest.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine, and his son, Colin.
He is survived by his children, Shannon, Kevin, Todd, Shea, Kelly and Ryan; 15 grandchildren, Justin, Marlys, Nathan, Tyler, Morgan, Brenan, Kaily, Kye, Joel, Jordan, Jackson, Damon, Sally, Kate and Reuben; one great-grandson, Hayden; his sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Bud Neumann; nieces, Kayce, Reta, Ruth, Erin and Susan; and his nephew, Kirk. He will also be remembered by one very special woman, Miss Jeanette Allumbaugh, who spent much of Richard's later years with him.
Visitation will be held at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes from 1 to 7 p.m. today, Dec. 22, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. today at Evans Funeral Chapel. A private Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, Dec. 23, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in La Conner, followed by interment at Fernhill Cemetery in Anacortes, where he will be placed by Geraldine's side. A public reception will be afterward at 1 p.m., at the American Croatian Club of Anacortes, 1202 Seventh St., in Anacortes.
Donations may be made in Richard's memory to the Skagit Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, whose kindness and experience helped the Kirkpatrick family in the final days of Richard's life.
"We are going to miss you Pa, but you will never be forgotten. Thank you."
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Anacortes. Share memories of Richard and sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.