Search Results

Kirkpatrick -- Robert E. Kirkpatrick, 79, of Las Cruces died Monday, June 16 at Memorial Medical Center. His father, George; mother, Bernice; and son, Robert Steven Kirkpatrick, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alice Ann Schneider; daughter, Eileen and husband, Wayne Gilbert of Las Cruces; son, Mark of Las Cruces; sister, Ethel and her husband, Jim Reese of Ocala, FL; brother, George and his wife, Jo of Palm Desert, CA.; sister, Margie and her husband, John Wullschleger of Evans, CO.; brother, Richard and his wife, Mary of Pismo, Beach, CA.; sister, Mary Ann and her husband, Kenny Howell of Denver, CO; brother, Harvey and his wife, Karen of Broomfield Co.; daughter-in-law, Virginia Killin of Gilbert, AZ; and grandsons, Dan of Las Cruces and Jimmy of Santa Fe. Kirkpatrick was born in Kansas City, MO, April 8, 1924 and grew up in Englewood, Colorado where he graduated from high school. He served for two years in World War II in the South Pacific with the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of the first occupational force in Japan. Kirkpatrick earned his accounting degree from the University of Denver in 1951 and his CPA certificate in 1960. He was a senior accountant with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in Santa Fe for six years and later was employed by two other Santa Fe accounting firms. In 1965 the Governor appointed him Chief of Financial Control Division and Deputy Director of the Department of Finance and Administration. Gov. Bruce King appointed him the Director of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration in 1970, a position he held four years until he was named Vice President for Business Affairs at New Mexico State University. With his contacts and experience in state government Kirkpatrick was also the chief contact between the university and the state legislature. Most recently he was honored by the New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and devotion to the CPA profession. In 1974, he was the recipient of the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award and the 1986 received the NMSU President's Award for Service. Kirkpatrick's affiliations included the American Institute of CPAs, the N.M. Society of CPAs and the Montezuma Lodge No.1, A.F.& A.M. in Santa Fe. For many years he served as the finance officer at University Methodist Church in Las Cruces. He was an avid fan of Aggie football and basketball. In high school he was a caddie at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver and continued his interest in golf joining a select group of retirees at the NMSU course. Military Honors will be held at 9 a.m. Friday June 20, 2003 at Veterans Park. A private family internment will follow Friday at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery. A Memorial Service has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2003 at the University Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Seelau officiating. A reception will follow at the Church. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, the family suggest donations to the Robert Kirkpatrick Scholarship Fund, NMSU Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003 with checks payable to the NMSU Foundation or to the Capital Improvement Fund of the University Methodist Church, 2000 Locust St., Las Cruces, NM. 88001. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, NM 526-2419. For private condolences log on to: www.GetzFuneralHome.com
        Published on: Wed June 18, 2003