John Vida Kirkpatrick

John Vida "Buddy" Kirkpatrick After the blessing of a long and fruitful life, John Vida "Buddy" Kirkpatrick, 80, of Cleveland, went home to heaven on Father?s Day, June 15, 2008. The son of Vida Barker Kirkpatrick and John R. Kirkpatrick of the Oak Grove Community, he was a lifelong resident of Bradley County. A graduate of Bradley High School, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He also served in the Navy during World War II and was retired from Magic Chef where he worked as Superintendent of the Assembly Department for 43 years. He was a member of Lebanon Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for 47 years as well as directing the church choir and teaching Sunday school. A charter member of Oak Grove Ruritan, he was awarded a lifetime membership in the Oak Grove PTA. He was preceded in death by his son, John Thomas Kirkpatrick and granddaughter, Shela Kirkpatrick, as well as one brother, James Kirkpatrick, and four sisters, Melba Kirkpatrick Samples, Nada Kirkpatrick Jones, Anna Lou Kirkpatrick Rogers and Eola Kirkpatrick Park. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Pauline Dixon Kirkpatrick; four children and spouses: Steve and Terri Kirkpatrick, Jeff and Cindy Kirkpatrick, Kathy and Wallace Lovelace and Kim and Rex Calfee all of Cleveland; daughter-in-law, Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress; grandchildren: Adam, Logan, Judson and Zane Kirkpatrick, Chad, Chris, Amy Kirkpatrick and Tiffany Wilkerson, April and Sarah Kirkpatrick, Ryan and Corey Lovelace, Chessa, Shanna, Karra and Becca Calfee; three great-grandchildren: J.D., Gavin and Caitlyn Kirkpatrick; one sister, Mary Kirkpatrick Bivens. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at the Lebanon Baptist Church on Parksville Road at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Richard McKeehan, Judson Kirkpatrick Reverend James Watson officiating. Interment will follow in the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Adam Kirkpatrick, Chad Kirkpatrick, Chris Kirkpatrick, Logan Kirkpatrick, Judson Kirkpatrick, Zane Kirkpatrick, Ryan Lovelace and Corey Lovelace. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and also from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at the church prior to the service. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Kirkpatrick family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.