R. Jack Kilpatrick

Candler - R. Jack Kilpatrick, 83, left his loved ones to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday - February 13, 2007 at the VA Hospital in Asheville, NC. Born May 20, 1923, in Marshall, NC, he was the son of the late James and Dora Kilpatrick. At 15, he moved to Candler and worked at London Grocery Store. Jack loved and proudly served his country in the US Army, during World War II, from 1943 to 1946 training at Ft. Benning, GA. and at Ft. Custer, MI - Military Police. He served in Brisbane, Australia at the rank of Corporal. After a promotion to S/Sgt., he was sent to Manila, Philippines at Clark Field, 11th Air-Borne. He was in Okinawa, Japan when the Japanese surrendered and with his M. P. training, served the courts during the War Crime Trials specifically the trial held for General Yamashita Tomoyuki, the Japanese Chief Commander. Jack was responsible for taking Yamashita to the Courtroom, and returning him to his cell each day. After Yamashitas sentencing, Jack was Honorably Discharged on Jan. 28, 1946, at Ft. Bragg, NC. In Feb. 1946 Jack went to work at American Enka Rayon Plant as a Carpenter. He furthered his education by completing advanced Blue Print-Reading and Drafting, Machine Shop Apprentice and T.I. Contracting and Building, as well as electrical wiring. He received a B.S. in Business Mgmt. from WCU in July 1962. In June 1965, was promoted to Supt. of the Pot-Spinning Dept. where he continued until the Rayon Plant shut down in Feb. 1976. He went to work, Feb. 1977 as Maintenance Supt. for Asheville School for Boys, where he also taught a Woodworking Shop. In April 1983, he worked for Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. as their Maintenance Supt. until he retired. Jack was very active in the Enka Community over the years. He served as Deacon at Enka Baptist Church in 1963. He helped in getting the Babe Ruth League team started at Sand Hill and the R.O.T.C. at Enka High. He helped build the Enka High Stadium. He was also instrumental in keeping an asphalt plant from being built behind Sand Hill-Venable School where the Sports Complex is now located. Jack was a member of Pole Creek Baptist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by his wife of 26 loving years Louise T. Kilpatrick; his son, Rev. James R. Kilpatrick, his wife Pam B. of Castle Rock, Co.; granddaughter, Heather, her husband Sam Sharp and their children Grayson and Lauryn all of Colorado Springs, Co.; granddaughter Holly, her husband Ryan Folkestead and their son, Caed all of Ashland, OR.; two stepdaughters, LaNita, her husband Jack Cloninger and their son, Justin all of Weaverville and Teresa, her husband Branson Holt and their son, Branson all of Denver, NC; several half nieces and nephews and extended family the London sisters, Jean Lore, Joyce Putney and Linda Warren; his daughter, Pam, her husband Nelson Hathcock and their children Michele, Seth and Ted all of Statesville. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with Jacks son, the Rev. James R. Kilpatrick officiating. The family will receive friends just prior to the service from 10 to 10:30 AM at the funeral home. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the caring and devoted staff of the V.A. Hospital, Asheville, NC. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Jacks memory to the: VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805, Attn: Mary Abbott PAC Hospice Program.