Charles Erwin Kirkwood
Charles "Charley" Erwin Kirkwood, age 94, passed away peacefully at NHC Oak Ridge.
Charles was born in Mayfield, KY to Charles Lorenzo and Mary Althea Erwin Kirkwood. He grew up in Mayfield before joining his family in Oak Ridge, TN in 1946. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1950. He attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville before joining the US Air Force in Feb of 1951.
He traveled to Oklahoma where he attended classes at Oklahoma A&MCollege. He was then stationed at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming. He was stationed in Alaska for a short time. He returned to Oak Ridge in Sept of 1953 after being Honorably discharged and receiving the National Defense Service Medal & a Good Conduct Medal. He found work right away at Union Carbide in Oak Ridge. Soon, thereafter, he met the love of his life, Shirley Blake Hurt. They married on July 17, 1954 at United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge.
In 1969, Charley & Shirley picked up & moved their family to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia where he began his career in Instrumentation with Arabian American Oil Co. (Aramco). Charley & his family were fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe & the Middle East. Charley & Shirley retired in 1983 & moved back to Oak Ridge. Charley was the captain of the basketball team at Oak Ridge High School. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He loved all sports. He was a huge University of Kentucky basketball & football fan, which was difficult to be being surrounded by UT Vols fans! He & Shirley bowled for many years in a league in Saudi Arabia & also in Oak Ridge. Charley enjoyed meeting friends for lunch and watching westerns at home.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Lorenzo Kirkwood and Mary Althea Erwin Kirkwood, his wife, Shirley Blake Kirkwood; his son-in-law, Willis Wayne Knox; his brother & his wife, James Edward & Margaret Archer Kirkwood; his niece, Robin Margo Kirkwood; and his brother-in-law, Bobby Lee Hurt.
He is survived by his daughter Kimberley Knox; his son David (Leigh Ann) Kirkwood; grandchildren, Justin (Carla) Knox; Shea (Clay) Weemhoff; and Callie, Abbie, & Reese Kirkwood; great-grandchildren; Landon, Bryce, & Tanner Knox and Pressley & Merritt Weemhoff along with 3 nephews & 2 nieces.
The family will hold onto the memories they shared with him and find comfort in the love, joy, & adventure he brought into their lives. He will be missed by so many. The family would like to extend thanks to NHC, Canterfield Assisted Living, & Caris Hospice for the care and comfort that Charley received.
Arrangements are being handled by Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge, TN. Visitation will be on Thur, Sept. 26 from 12-1:00. A service will be held immediately following with Les Martin officiating & an eulogy given by Trace Kirkwood. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, 1501 Bethel Valley Rd., Oak Ridge.
Pallbearers: Justin Knox, Reese Kirkwood, Clay Weemhoff, Jon Kirkwood, Trace Kirkwood, & Gabriel Molinar.