William Frank Kirk

Mr. William Frank Kirk, age 88 of Pocahontas, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Pine Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bolivar.

Mr. Kirk was born in Saulsbury November 16, 1925, second son to Jessie Edward and Ora Evelyn Galloway Kirk. As a child, he attended Mills School and helped on the family farm. On January 27, 1944, he was inducted into the United States Army at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He served in a combat infantry unit as a scout in the Rhineland, Central Europe Campaign during World War II, and received the American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, and Combat Infantry Badge. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal on April 12, 1946.

On June 19, 1946, he was united in marriage to Velar May Hollis, who passed January 21, 2011. He worked for, and retired from, Memphis Area Transit Authority. He and his wife lived in Memphis until his retirement, when they moved to Pocahontas, Tennessee. There, he spent the last thirty years of his life, gardening, hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Pleasant Hill United Pentecostal Church and was a Mason.

Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Kirk Pickle and her husband Tom, Sr.; 2 sons, William Eugene Kirk of West Chester, OH and David Frank Kirk (Diane Edwards) of Slayden, MS; a sister Bernice Kirk Bass of Middleton; 5 brothers, Roy Kirk of Pocahontas, Wilbert Kirk and his wife Velma of Memphis, C. W. Kirk and his wife Tommie Sue of Middleton, Leon Kirk and his wife Lottie of Olive Branch and James David Kirk and his wife Linda of Middleton; 4 grandchildren, Lt. Col. Tom Pickle, Jr. and his wife Betsy; Christopher Kirk (Beth), Lindsey Kirk Martindale (Justin) and their mother Mona Carson Kirk; and Kelli Kirk Neier (Jason) and her mother Karen Johnson Kirk; 2 honorary granddaughters, Christine Hermann Nachbauer of Germany and Adelaida Espí Galbis of Spain; and 5 great grandchildren, Ethan and Sean Kirk, Jeffrey and Clare Neier, and William Pickle. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a son William Donald Kirk, a sister Louise Kirk and a great-grandson Asher Knox Martindale.

The family wishes to send a special message of thanks to the loving, compassionate caregivers at Pine Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and to Judy Pulliam and Toni Franck of the Willowbrook Visiting Nurse Association in Somerville.

Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.