Joseph Billington Kirk Sr., better known as Pop Pop, lived from March 7, 1940, to Nov. 16, when he died on a Sunday morning at the same time he normally would have been celebrating the Holy Eucharist at the Lord’s table.
Mr. Kirk is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen L. Kirk Sr. and Anna M. Billington Kirk, and his in-laws, Roberts V. Weaver Sr. and Helen Howard Weaver.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years as of Nov. 25, Helen Weaver Kirk; children, The Rev. Barbara Helen Kirk-Norris and her husband, William Christopher Norris, Joseph Billington Kirk Jr. and his wife, Melinda Blevins Kirk, and Margeret Compton Kirk Clark and her husband, Andrew Jones Clark; grandchildren, Cecelia Clementine Kirk, Thompson Staley Clark, Joseph Billington “Trey” Kirk III, and Vivian Wallace Clark.
Mr. Kirk attended Knoxville parochial schools and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He was a member of The Men’s Cotillion Club, Cherokee Country Club, South and West Knoxville Rotary clubs, and the Morning Men’s Bible Study held at Cherokee Country Club, and a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Roundtable in insurance sales. He was proud to serve in the U.S. Army and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Kirk’s family members were founding members of Sacred Heart Parish, and he was elected to the first parish council at Sacred Heart.
The family wants to thank University of Tennessee Medical Center hospice services, Dr. Amy E. Forsee, Pat Summitt Clinic, The Episcopal Church of the Ascension’s Healing Service, Father Joe Reed, and Immaculate Conception Church.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Kirk was celebrated on Nov. 22 at Immaculate Conception Church. Donations in Mr. Kirk’s memory may be made to the charitable organization of your choice.