Vonnie Basil Kirkpatrick

Vonnie Basil Kirkpatrick, 89, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2008 at his home in Gainesville. Basil was born on June 18, 1919 in Ivanhoe, Texas to Silas Frank Kirkpatrick and May Spruce. He married Trudie Kirkpatrick on December 26, 1944. He was a member on the Grand Avenue Baptist Church for many years and later attended at Calvary Baptist Church.
Basil was owner of the Kirkpatrick Garage and Mechanic Shop and later the Kirkpatrick Wrecking Yard. He was a master machinist and mechanic and worked at Weber Aircraft in the 1960’s. His rock/gravel transport contributed to the construction of Interstate-30 and 121-Airport Freeway in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He loved farming and ranching which he engaged in for most of his life. He also enjoyed land development and fishing.
Basil entered the military service of the Army Air Corp in 1941. He trained at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio and various other camps in the U.S. He was assigned to the 40th Fighter Squadron and served in Australia and New Guinea. He returned to the U.S. in 1944. He earned 3 Bronze Stars, an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was a devoted and loving husband and father, an entertaining and humorous story-teller, and had a vast knowledge of all things mechanical. He will be greatly missed.

Basil is preceded in death by his parents Silas Frank Kirkpatrick and May Spruce, wife Trudie Kirkpatrick, brother Jess Kirkpatrick and sister Dorothy Myers.

Basil is survived by his wife Mary Lou Kirkpatrick; son Larry Jack Kirkpatrick; son and daughter-in-law Charles Craig and Pamela Kirkpatrick; step-children Virginia McGee and husband Dennis, Linda Manning and husband Ronnie; brother Joe Kirkpatrick and sister-in-law Christina; nephews Ronnie of Ft. Worth; Michael and Jason of Laredo; nieces Linda of Whitesboro; and Rachel of Laredo.

Serving as pallbearers are: Ronnie Kirkpatrick, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jason Kirkpatrick, Timothy West, Ronnie Manning, and John Adams.

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 from 6-7 p.m. at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Chapel. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville.