Individual Details

Donald Lee Kirkpatrick

(30 May 1931 - 19 Nov 2018)

Donald Lee Kirkpatrick was born 30 May 1931 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. His parents were living at the time in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. Don grew up in Healdsburg, he was an Eagle Scout, played in the high school band and lettered in football and track. He attended the University of California at Berkley, where he received his bachelor's degree and elementary teaching certificate in 1954. He later earned an M.A. in Elementary Education, and in 1971 he completed his work for his Ph.D. in Educational Administration. From 1955 to 1960 he taught elementary school in Marin County, California. From 1960 to 1963 he worked as an elementary school principal in Corcoran, Kings County, California. and from 1963 to 1975 he was a school administrator in Davis, Yolo County, California. From 1975 to 1989 he served as Superintendent of Schools for the Mendocino Unified School District, Mendocino, California. From 1989 to 1992 he served as Superintendent of Schools for the Saudi Arabian International Schools in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He was therefore in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. He married on 1 February 1953 to Shirley Louise Morehouse, who was born 7 December 1932 in Scotia, Humboldt County, California. She received her A.B. degree from the University of California - Berkley, and was an elementary school teacher for twenty-four years. Don and Shirley are now both retired, and live alternatively in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky and Mendocino, Mendocino County, California. They are Presbyterians.

There were three (3) children born of the marriage.

Published Online in the Press Democrat on Nov. 30, 2018: Donald Lee Kirkpatrick passed away peacefully on November 19, 2018, at the age of 87 in his home in Mendocino, California. He is survived by his three children, Lynne Kirkpatrick Morehouse, Teya Lee, Bonnie Kirkpatrick, his younger sister, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Vrenios, four grandchildren, Laura Silva Kirkpatrick, Daniel Silva Kirkpatrick , Anna Brinckmann, Kaleeya Lee and one great-grandchild, Emma RobleƱo Silva.

Don was raised in Healdsburg, California, where he met and wed his childhood sweetheart, Shirley Morehouse to whom he was married for almost 60 years.
He pursued his life-long passion as an educator, serving as Principal of schools in Corcoran and Davis, and District Superintendent in Mendocino. During his fourteen-year tenure, he was responsible for many projects including the building of the Mendocino Middle school and the founding of the Community School, which won state honors as one of the major innovative programs in the state. After retiring in 1981, both Don and his wife Shirley moved to Saudi Arabia where they lived and worked during the Gulf war. They co-authored Saudi Soujourn chronicling their experiences there.

A memorial service will be held at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church in Mendocino on January 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Donations in his name may be made to the Lift Every Voice Fund at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church.

Events

Birth30 May 1931San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California
Marriage1 Feb 1953Healdsburg, Sonoma Co., California - Shirley Louise Morehouse
Death19 Nov 2018Mendocino Co., California
BurialUnknown

Families

SpouseShirley Louise Morehouse (1932 - 2016)
ChildLynn Marie Kirkpatrick (1956 - )
ChildLaurie Ann Kirkpatrick (1958 - )
ChildBonnie Jean Kirkpatrick (1961 - )
FatherLouie Newton Kirkpatrick (1896 - 1979)
MotherIlma Mary Lattu (1903 - 1993)
SiblingRobert Newton Kirkpatrick (1929 - )
SiblingElizabeth Ann Kirkpatrick (1940 - )

Endnotes