Dr. William Smith Kirk

Dr. William Smith Kirk, 86, of Salisbury, NC passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014 at The Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks. Born April 22, 1928 in Salisbury, NC to the late Suzanne Sovereign Smith and Frank Walter Kirk, Sr., he was educated in the Salisbury City schools. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill from 1942-1945 for Pre-Dental Education then received his dental education at Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago, IL from 1957-1958 and his graduate degree in Orthodontics for the UNC-Chapel Hill Dental School in 1957-1958. Dr. Kirk served in the U.S. Air Force in Dental Service at Maxwell Air Force Base with the 3810th Station Medical group in Montgomery, AL from 1949-1951 and at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany from 1951-1952 with the 7150th Medical Group. He held the rank of Captain. From 1952-1958 he worked in Private General Practice and in 1958 until 1999 he worked in the Practice of Orthodontics in Salisbury, NC. He was the home dentist at Presbyterian Home for Children from 1952-1963. In 1999 he retired from dental practice. Dr. Kirk was a member of the 2nd District Dental Society of NC where he served as President from 1968-1969; the NC Orthodontic Association where he was President from 1973-1974; the Salisbury Rotary Club where he had served as Club President and was Governor of Rotary International, District #76 from 1989-1990. He was also a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board in Salisbury, NC where he served as Chairman. Dr. Kirk was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC where he served as an Elder and Sunday school teacher for 56 years. He was a Member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Dr. Smith deeply loved Rotary International. He also knew a lifelong love for aviation, making his solo flight at 16, before receiving his drivers’ license. He held a Private Pilot license with an Instrument rating. Surviving is his wife Lois Jean Smith from Bentleyville, PA whom he married at Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery AL on February 5, 1951. Both served active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Also surviving are his children, Dr. William Smith Kirk, Jr. of Charlotte, NC; Margaret Suzanne Spicknall of Dalton, GA; and Timothy Davis Kirk of Kannapolis, NC; 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. His brother, Frank Walter Kirk, Jr. preceded him in death. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Friday (June 6) at Summersett Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held 11 AM Saturday (June 7) at First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC; conducted by Dr. Fred Coats. A private burial will be held at a later time. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 249 McLelland Ave, Mooresville, NC 28115; Ligonier Ministries, 421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL 32771; or Rotary International Foundation, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3698. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Kirk family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Dr. William Smith Kirk

April 22, 1928 - May 29, 2014