Obituary of Colonel Richard Carlyle Kirk, Jr.

Colonel Richard Carlyle Kirk, Jr., aged 84, of Palm Bay, Florida passed away on February 1, 2021. He will be deeply missed by his surviving family members and friends.

Colonel Kirk(Dick)was born on February 25, 1936, in Sumpter, South Carolina, to Richard C. Kirk, Sr, and Mary Faedene Ridge Kirk. He grew up in various places, including Raleigh and Asheboro, North Carolina, and South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he completed his high school education. Colonel Kirk went on to study aeronautical engineering at Purdue University and completed the ROTC program before joining the United States Air Force as an officer.

Richard proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1981. His distinguished career in the Air Force focused on range safety where he made numerous contributions towards advancements in that area. His broadly recognized skill, expertise, and dedication to excellence led to his becoming the foremost Dept. of Defense authority on range missile flight control. As an example of the responsible positions he held, he was selected by the AFSC Commander as a missile flight control officer for the first launch of the space shuttle. His high-quality work throughout his career earned him many accolades and awards.

After retiring from the Air Force, Colonel Kirk became an accomplished investor in the stock market. His successes enabled him as part of his legacy to develop and support a family educational trust and, in addition, make generous donations to Purdue University.

Throughout his life, in addition to his professional career, Colonel Kirk had a passion for sports, including baseball and scuba diving, and for card games such as Bridge and Hearts. He became quite skilled, as many of his opponents could attest.

Colonel Kirk was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Emma Jean Sabol (Jean), who passed away before him as did his stepson Frank Sabol. He is survived by his stepchildren, Carolyn Ogle and JeanAnn Bellais, his daughter-in-law, Joanne Saboland by his brother and spouse, Robert and Nancy Kirk.

A funeral service for family and friends will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery on March 22, 2023, at 11 AM, where Colonel Kirk will be laid to rest with full military honors. His legacy of generous support for educational needs, and his unwavering commitment to perfection and detail will live on for generations to come