Home > United States of America > North Carolina > Macon County > Franklin > Patton United Methodist Church Cemetery > Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland

Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland

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Birth	:	6 Jul 1931 Proctor, Swain County, North Carolina, USA
Death	:	14 Mar 2020 Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Patton United Methodist Church Cemetery, Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate	:	35.1491600, -83.4182600
Description	:	Frederick (Fred) Eugene Kirkland, 88, passed away Saturday March 14, 2020. Born in Swain County, North Carolina, Fred was the only child of the late Jack J. Kirkland and Roxie K. Kirkland. Fred is survived by his wife of 68 years, Polly Kirkland, 3 sons; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Fred was actually born on the banks of Hazel Creek, in the town of Proctor, that is now within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. He lived in Proctor until the seventh grade where he then began to live with his aunts Minnie and... Read More	Frederick (Fred) Eugene Kirkland, 88, passed away Saturday March 14, 2020. Born in Swain County, North Carolina, Fred was the only child of the late Jack J. Kirkland and Roxie K. Kirkland. Fred is survived by his wife of 68 years, Polly Kirkland, 3 sons; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Fred was actually born on the banks of Hazel Creek, in the town of Proctor, that is now within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. He lived in Proctor until the seventh grade where he then began to live with his aunts Minnie and Anne to finish school eventually graduating from Marion High School in 1949. At Marion High he played football, basketball and baseball and in his senior year he captained and led his football team as their quarterback. He claimed to be only an average student. He then started college at Western Carolina in 1950 pursuing a teaching degree but that was cut short by the Korean War where Fred served over 3 years in the Navy. He had 3 separate tours off the coast of North Korea on the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles, leaving the service in 1954 as a 1st Class Petty Officer. After the service Fred went on to graduate in 1958 from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Fred then went on to a long engineering career with Western Electric in Winston-Salem NC, Bell Laboratories in Greensboro NC and AT&T in New Jersey, retiring in 1987 as a Senior Member of Technical Staff. His most notable career accomplishment was in the early 80s leading the team that first utilized the then emerging computing systems developed by Hewlett Packard, to automate data collection and configuration of undersea telephone cable systems as they were being deployed. For this he was invited by Hewlett Packard Corp to speak before the IEE in Great Britton. During the last 10 years of his career, he and Polly traveled the globe while Fred led various undersea cable lay projects with his colleague and close friend, Kevin McDonald. Fred always said that Kevin was his true brother from another mother. While living in Winston-Salem and Greensboro in the late 60s and early 70s, Fred coached little league football, baseball and basketball in Winston-Salem and Greensboro. He and his close friend Ben Cockman mentored many young men during this time. Fred and Polly made their final move in retirement to Franklin NC’s Patton Valley in 1994. Polly was born there in 1932 so she was just returning home. Very early on they became involved in the “Friends of the Library” and Fred created the computer program that tracked membership and donations for the new library. Fred and Polly also joined Patton UMC and began 26 years of involvement with their new church family. Fred was involved in, and sometimes led, multiple gospel/bluegrass/folk bands, and was involved in a number of church functions. Fred made many many good friends there, admired the devotion of the extended Cloer family, but he was closest to his friend Robbie Wood. Along with wood working, and trout fishing with his son Mike, Dr. Wilde, and Robbie Wood, Fred enjoyed a number of hobbies in retirement. Fred said many times that their home in Patton Valley was his and Polly’s “little piece of paradise on earth”. James Funeral Home of Huntersville NC is serving the Kirkland family and can be contacted at 704-948-9004 or at www.JamesFuneralHomeLKN.com . Fred will be buried on the grounds of Patton UMC. A celebration of Fred’s life will be held there in the coming weeks.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland's memorial?
Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland's memorial is located at: Patton United Methodist Church Cemetery, Franklin, Macon County, USA.
When did Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland death?
Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland death on 14 Mar 2020 in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Frederick Eugene “Fred” Kirkland's memorial?
Latitude: 35.1491600
Longitude: -83.4182600

Family Members:

Parent

Jack J. Kirkland

(1898 - 1969)

Roxie M. Kirkland

(1904 - 1978)

Spouse

Pauline Keener Kirkland

(1932 - 2020)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Patton United Methodist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1491600, -83.4182600

2. Woodlawn Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1716670, -83.4005500

3. Ledford-Moffitt Cemetery
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Coordinate: 35.1281013, -83.3972015

4. New Hope Cemetery
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Coordinate: 35.1780710, -83.4126770

5. Union Methodist Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 35.1232170, -83.3921340

6. Charlie Sanders Cemetery
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Coordinate: 35.1077882, -83.4232834

7. Dowdle Family Cemetery
Prentiss, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1167410, -83.3848680

8. Clarks Chapel Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1382500, -83.3672380

9. Franklin Methodist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1822690, -83.3843530

10. Mount Zion Cemetery
Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1469020, -83.4721720

11. Franklin Baptist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1853770, -83.3814030

12. Angel Cemetery
Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1547012, -83.3563995

13. The Great Mound Nikwasi
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1849900, -83.3736000

14. East Franklin Baptist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1938280, -83.3689540

15. St. John's Cartoogechaye Episcopal Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1425000, -83.4925000

16. Rush Cemetery
Otto, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0905991, -83.3842010

17. Stiles Cemetery
Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0992012, -83.3608017

18. Wilkes Cemetery
Burningtown, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.2125000, -83.4627800

19. Iotla Methodist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.2294180, -83.4170350

20. Iotla Baptist Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.2304250, -83.4196970

21. Fouts Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.2289009, -83.4381027

22. Sugarfork Baptist Church Cemetery
Ellijay, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1729930, -83.3201790

23. Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery
Franklin, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.2010120, -83.3332600

24. Asbury Cemetery
Otto, Macon County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0628014, -83.3899994