Fred Warren Kilpatrick Jr., 94, of Murphy, was welcomed into his eternal home Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
Fred was a native and lifelong resident of Ranger, Cherokee County. He was born Feb. 15, 1927, and was the oldest son of Fred Warren Kilpatrick Sr. and Blanche Alice Fox Kilpatrick.
In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his beloved and loving wife of 67 years, Louellen. His sisters and brothers-in-law that preceded him in death were: Regina (Joe) Ledford, Gladys (Johnny) Keenum and Ruth Moss. Fred’s brothers and sisters-in-law who also preceded him in death were Dale Kilpatrick and James “Pat” (Lou Jean) Kilpatrick, and Pat’s former wife, Lu Stiles Kilpatrick.
Surviving Fred are his brothers and sisters-in-law: Gary and Betty Kilpatrick and Richard and Lorraine Kilpatrick, all of Murphy. Fred’s brother-in-law, Lanier Moss of Jasper, Ga., and sister-in-law, Bertha Kilpatrick of Bella Vista, Ark. Many beloved nieces and nephews also survive.
Fred’s surviving children will miss their Daddy dearly. They include his sons and daughters-in-law: Stephen “Steve” Warren Kilpatrick and his wife Dianna (Little) of Edisto Island, S.C.; Joseph “Joe” Keith Kilpatrick and his wife, Simone (Jolie), of LaFayette, Ga.; and his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Ann Kilpatrick White and her husband, Larry, of Dahlonega, Ga.
Fred also leaves behind his loving grandchildren and their spouses and his great-grandchildren, who all affectionately call him Grand Pappy K, Grand Pa K and Great Grand Daddy K. Surviving grandchildren include: Alan (Jiggy) Kilpatrick and their son, Kiran Kilpatrick of Pittsboro; Eran (Amy) Kilpatrick and their children, Grant and Lily Kilpatrick of Walterboro, S.C.; Anna (Jeff) Bradshaw of Honolulu, Hawaii; Jacob “Jake” (Mandy) Kilpatrick and their children, Gabe (Sarah), Asher, Lucy, Aubrey and Hazel Kilpatrick of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Jennifer “Jenny” (Dusty) Wright and their children, Haile, Levi and Violet Wright of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Casey (Nate) Ploof and their children, Lydia, Ethen and Warren Ploof of Juneau, Alaska; Nathan (fiance Sarah Payne) Kilpatrick and their children, Edie and Ramona Kilpatrick and Joziah and Jenesis Payne of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Katherine “Katy” (Cyril “Cy”) Shircel of Ooltewah, Tenn.; Justin (Rachel) White and their children, Kesaobaka “Kesa” and Karishma White of Nairobi, Kenya, Africa; and Adam (Whitney) White and their children, Judson and Micah White of Watkinsville, Ga.
In 1943, after his graduation from Murphy High School at the age of l6, Fred went to Atlanta, Ga., to find employment. He worked at Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1943 and 1944 as stock clerk and later as department manager.
He left his job at Sears when the U.S. Army drafted him in early 1945. After completing his basic training at Fort Bragg, Fred was then moved to Camp Blanding, Fla. There he was assigned duties as postal clerk and day room and sports equipment supervisor. With World War II coming to a close, Fred was proud and honored to have served his country until the end of 1946.
After being discharged from the Army, Fred returned to Ranger. In February 1947, he married his best friend and sweetheart, Louellen. He worked in Louisville, Ky., briefly before returning to Murphy to work with Hackney Wholesale. He farmed and did carpentry work until being hired in 1951 by Tennessee Copper Company in Copperhill, Tenn. The company later became Cities Service, then Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy). Fred worked as supervisor central maintenance, and he was over plant construction and carpentry until his retirement in 1982.
Fred loved retirement and was never bored. For him retirement wasn’t just having his morning coffee and eating a Little Debbie. Fred was a “Jack of all trades.” He and Louellen were continually working on various projects. Fred enjoyed carpentry work and working outdoors. In the early 1960s, he and Louellen built their house in Ranger. They did all of the construction except for laying the brick.
In his 80s, he enjoyed painting folk art pictures. Fred enjoyed watching Braves baseball and fastpitch girls’ softball. But most of all, “wetting a hook” was on the top of his list and always on his heart.
Having both grown up in Western Carolina and in the Appalachian Mountains, Fred and Louellen instilled in their children and grandchildren the love and appreciation of the outdoors and God’s beautiful creation. Together, they loved to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. They enjoyed camping in the fall with just the “boys” and hunting Ginseng. Camping during Labor Day with their children, their spouses, grandkids, and great-grandkids was always a special time. Fred and Louellen loved the lakes, rivers and streams of Western Carolina, as well as fishing and playing in the ocean at Edisto Beach, S.C.
In his 90s, Fred loved fishing in Colorado and Alaska, when he traveled there with his family.
In his younger days, Fred was Boy Scout Master for several years and enjoyed spending time camping and engaging in outdoor activities with the young boys who lived in the Ranger area.
Fred and Louellen loved their family and friends, but ultimately, loved God and praised Him as their Savior. It was important to them to raise their children in church. They were lifelong members of Ranger United Methodist Church. Fred taught the Young Adult’s Sunday school class.
For many years, he worked to maintain the original church and cemetery. When a tornado destroyed the original church, Ranger Methodist Church, on April 3, 1974, Fred helped with construction of the new church, which is now Ranger United Methodist Church.
Funeral services were held at Ranger United Methodist Church, Murphy, on Sunday, May 2, at 3 p.m. with visitation at 2 p.m. at the church prior to the funeral. The Rev. Timothy Lee officiated. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in the Peachtree Community.
Pallbearers were Alan Kilpatrick, Eran Kilpatrick, Jacob Kilpatrick, Nathan Kilpatrick, Justin White and Adam White. Honorary pallbearers were Dusty Wright, Nate Ploof, Cy Shircel and Jeff Bradshaw.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Ranger United Methodist Church
at 156 Ranger Road, Murphy, NC 28906. You may also make a donation to the charity of your choice.
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Adapted From “Our Daily Bread” Devotional, June 22, 2020, by E. P. Escobar: “I pray that my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren would have eternal eyes. I pray for them to be less and less nearsighted – consumed by the pain of this world. And be more and more farsighted – filled with hope in our loving God.”
You may send tributes to the family at www.townson-rose.com.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.