John Kirkpatrick

John W. Kirkpatrick, passed away at Grandwood Assisted Living in Grove, OK on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at the age of 89. John was born on February 21, 1926 in Shidler, OK, the son of the late John Lewis Kirkpatrick and Ada Ann (Price) Kirkpatrick. John graduated from high school in New Orleans, LA in 1943. He attended The University of Tulsa where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. John worked as a petroleum engineer for Amoco for 35 years. He married Ruth Harvey on December 2, 1945 in Tulsa. In 1960 John and Ruth bought a cabin on Grand Lake where they enjoyed spending time with family and friends. The couple moved to Grand Lake full time in 1984 after building a retirement home. John enjoyed boating, making big family breakfasts, teaching the grandkids how to water-ski, and fixing anything he could get his hands on. John and Ruth loved to square dance, serving as president of the Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association and dancing for over 50 years. John was instrumental in the formation of the Monkey Island Fire Department and was on their board for 10 years. Friends and family will miss his big smile, his laughter, his jokes and his stories. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters: Lena Smith and Janey Schaefer. John is survived by his wife Ruth of the home; one son John L. Kirkpatrick and his wife Rosanna of Slidell, LA; three daughters: Jean Ann Kirkpatrick of Grove, Tamara Sutphin and her husband David of Denver, CO, and Christy Reynolds and her husband Paul of Tulsa, OK; five grandchildren: Jennifer McQuade and her husband Scott of Owasso, OK, Katherine Kirkpatrick of San Diego, CA, Mary Kirkpatrick of Tulsa, OK, Michael Sutphin of Denver, CO, and Ali Sutphin of Denver, CO; five great grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at Lake Center Baptist Church on Monkey Island, OK on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 11AM. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home, Grove, OK. Friends and family may leave notes of encouragement by viewing John's Book of Memories at www.ellisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Monkey Island Fire Department.

Service Details

Monday, March 2nd, 2015 11:00am, Lake Center Baptist Church