Mr. Millard Franklin Kirk

Millard Franklin Kirk, 91 of Sykesville Maryland, died Friday, November 11, 2011 at the Fairhaven Continuing Care Retirement Community, also in Sykesville. Born September 11, 1920 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late A. Raymond and Alice Kirk of Fallston Maryland. He was the husband of Betty Lyons Kirk of Sykesville, his wife of 65 years. Millard, who preferred to be addressed by his surname “Kirk,” was a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1943. Following graduation he attended Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Civil Engineer’s Corps of the United States Navy (the SEABEEs) and was subsequently deployed to the South Pacific Theater in 1944. He served as an officer in a construction and maintenance unit on the islands of Biak, Mios Woendi, and New Guinea until the conclusion of the war, after which he deployed to Bikini Atoll where he and his unit constructed the towers that held the scientific instrumentation used to record the effects of the atomic bomb tests conducted during Operation Crossroads. Following the war he returned to the United States where he worked as a Civil Engineer until his retirement. His jobs included a return to active duty during the Korean Conflict; he retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1966. In civilian life be worked for a number of government agencies located primarily in Maryland, including the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Edgewood Arsenal, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Security Agency. He also worked for Kidde Consultants in Towson Maryland. Surviving in addition to his wife are sons and daughters-in-law Scott and Diane Kirk of Woodbine, and Mark Kirk and Marjorie Erickson of New Market. Additionally, he is survived by grandchildren April, Ben, Karen, Cindy, Gerald, Charles, Kate, Ann, and Arthur, and by great-grandchildren Olivia, Anthony, and Alex. A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 19 at 11:00 AM in the chapel at Fairhaven, 7200 Third Avenue, Sykesville Maryland. Interment will be held on Monday November 21 at 11:00 AM at the Wesley New Freedom United Methodist Church in Eldersburg Maryland. Friends are welcome at the memorial service; the interment will be attended by the immediate family.

Mr. Millard Franklin Kirk

September 11, 1920 - November 11, 2011