Walter G. Kirkland
SOUTH WILMINGTON – Mr. Walter George Kirkland, 80, of South Wilmington, Ill., passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Ill.
Visitation will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd., Braidwood Chapel, from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4. Cremation rites will follow.
Inurnment with military honors will be at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill., at a later date.
Born May 18, 1929, in Otsego, Mich., he was a son to the late George and Esma (nee Towne) Kirkland. A veteran of the United States Army, he served from 1947 to 1953.
Mr. Kirkland married Kathryn Richmond on May 1, 1965.
He was formerly employed by ComEd, retiring from La Salle Station following 35 years of employment. He served on the South Wilmington Fire Department from 1978 to 1989.
He was a life member of the Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Mazon, Ill.; member and past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Kellogg Chapter; and a member and past master of the Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. #573 in Gardner, Ill.
Surviving are his wife, Kathy; three sons, Ronald (Tammy) Kirkland of Kempton, Ill., Thomas (Staci) Kirkland of Cortland, N.Y., and Robert (Kristen) Kirkland of Godley, Ill.; one daughter, Carole (Bruce) Potter of Truxton, N.Y.; grandchildren Jonathan, Bethany, Jay, Shelby, Makenzie, Taylor, Doug, Matt, Nick, Jessica and Clarissa “Lu Lu”; a great grandchild, Trevor; sister-in-law, Karen Kirkland; mother-in-law, Lois Chatterson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were three brothers, Eugene, Dale and Carl Kirkland.
Memorials in his name may be made to the South Wilmington Ambulance Fund, the Veterans Administration or to the RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale, Ill.
R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd., 401 E. Main St., Braidwood, is in charge of arrangements. For additional information, call (815) 458-2336
