MILLARD KIRK, 78, of Barboursville, died peacefully in the loving presence of family on Friday, January 8, 2016, after fighting with grace and strength an epic battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Millard was the beloved husband of the late Mary R. Kirk for 52 years. Born at home in Mingo County and raised on Pigeon Creek outside of Delbarton, West Virginia, by his late parents Joe and Ada Kirk, he was a Barboursville resident for the past 55 years. Graduating from Delbarton High School in 1955, Millard joined the Air Force and was stationed in Platteville, Wisconsin, where he was to meet his future wife, Mary, at a USO dance. Married in Platteville in 1959, they later moved to West Virginia, where Millard subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Marshall University and began a long and successful career at "The Nickel Plant," Huntington Alloys. Millard was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Barboursville. He loved his children, their spouses and his grandchildren, and after retirement, logged many miles to visit and spend time with them in Maryland, Indiana and New Mexico, in addition to hosting them in West Virginia.
Millard's strong and abiding curiosity extended beyond his work in the laboratory and led to many outside interests, including traveling across the U.S. and to Europe, exploring electronics and computers, the German language and photography, and mastering clock building, woodworking, sailing and cooking, to name a few. Millard was touched by music and enjoyed harmonizing his singing voice with others, both in the First United Methodist Church Choir and in a singing quartet with his friends. He was a coach, referee and author, having penned "An Appalachian Family," which can now be found in many libraries throughout West Virginia. Millard was also an accomplished handyman and tinkerer, and his children never recall him hiring a repair person - all work was completed "in-house." He brought joy to friends and family with his witty sense of humor, competitive spirit and hearty laugh. Millard was a devoted father, and along with his wife, Mary, he raised two sons and a daughter: Dr. Martin Kirk and his wife, Dr. Claudia Poglitsch of Albuquerque, N.M.; Matthew Kirk and his wife, Nicole of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Michelle Clancy and her husband, Brian of Bowie, M.D. Millard also leaves two adored grandchildren, Micah and Daniel Kirk of Fort Wayne, Ind. He is also survived in death by his sister, Cordell Edwards of Barboursville, his brother, James Kirk of Texas; and his brother-in-law, James Rudersdorf of Barboursville. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Barboursville at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2. The service will be preceded by a private family service at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Barboursville. The Wallace Funeral Home, 1159 Central Ave., Barboursville, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Huntington and the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House.
