FREEPORT, FL Rev. Robert F. Kirkman, 85, Freeport, Florida, formerly of Mitchell, passed away at 6:23 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida.
Born May 30, 1923, in Avoca, he was the son of Roscoe Elsworth and Bernice (Franklin) Kirkman. He married Lois Houpt April 4, 1942, and she preceded him in death July 11, 1999.
He was a U. S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and was a member of the Cecil C. Martin American Legion Post No. 250. In 1952 he went to work at Naval Weapons Support CenterCrane and retired in 1970.
Rev. Kirkman was a member and pastor emeritus of the Mitchell First Baptist Church, past president of the Mitchell Rotary Club, and was a Red Coat at Dunn Memorial Hospital. He began his ministry in 1959 and served churches at Huron, Mount Horeb, and Mitchell, and was interim pastor for the American Baptist Churches of Indiana serving at Avoca, Boonville, Brazil, Spencer, Greensburg, Eastview in Paoli, Bedford, Vincennes, Tell City, and Mount Pleasant and Orleans, both in Orange County. He was elected to six terms on the Indiana Baptist Board of Managers, serving as president in 1978.
In 1976, he was appointed volunteer chaplain of Bloomington Post No. 33, Indiana State Police, and served in that capacity until 1982. He was a past master of the Bedford Masonic Lodge No. 14, an honorary member of Mitchell Masonic Lodge No. 228, and Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis. In 1987 he was appointed to a one-year term as grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Indiana.
Surviving: daughters,
Peggy Hasker and husband, Mike, Upper Marlboro, MD
Polly Terry and husband, Carl, Freeport, FL
granddaughters,
Paige Nicholson and husband, Kevin, Salem, VA
Amanda Terry, Corpus Christi, TX
great granddaughter,
Olivia Nicholson
brothers,
Tom Kirkman, Avoca
Joe Kirkman, Bedford
sisters,
Patsy Jackson, Bedford
Joan Burton, Orleans
His parents; wife; brother, William Kirkman; and sister, Carol Pennington, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 31, at the First Baptist Church in Mitchell, with Rev. Bill Graham, Reverend Charles Newman, and Rev. Tom Fuller officiating. Burial will be in Talbott Cemetery.
Friends may call from 2:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Chastain Funeral Home and from 9:00 a.m. until the service on Thursday at the church.
Memorial Gifts: First Baptist Church Day Care Ministry