David C. Kirk Jr.

David C. Kirk Jr. passed away peacefully at home in Brevard, NC on Sunday March 12, 2023. He was 98.

Born in 1924 in Newark, NJ to David Kirk Sr and Florence Kilgour Kirk, he received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University. Dave would go on to receive the M.S. in Chemistry from New York University and Ph.D. in Physical and Organic Chemistry from the State University of Iowa. He also received an M.B.A. from Clemson University/Furman University Graduate Business Program.

Dave began his career with Merck & Co. Pharmaceutical in Rahway, NJ, followed by Hercules Inc. in Wilmington, DE. He moved to Brevard in 1958 to work as Director of Research at Ecusta. In 1977 he became Technical Director for SCM Corp, in Kalamazoo MI, retiring back to Brevard in 1988.

A member of Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church for over 60 years, Dave served several terms on the Session as a ruling Elder including as Clerk of the Session, multiple terms as Deacon, taught Sunday School, and served on the Pastoral Search Committee.

Dave was a longtime supporter of the Brevard community involved in many civic and philanthropic activities. He was the Chairman of Transylvania County Zoning and Planning Board, Chairman of Transylvania County Social Services Committee, Chairman of North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society, Chairman of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) College Group which guided students interested in careers in the sciences. He was an active member of Rotary and volunteered in the SCORE Mentorship program, where he guided new entrepreneurs in how to create business plans and get their businesses running successfully.

He was an enthusiastic player of tennis, racquetball, and paddle ball, and was a golfer, hiker and fisherman. He played the piano and cello, performing with the Transylvania Symphony.

Dave was an avid reader and passionate supporter of the Transylvania County Library. Always interested in learning and keeping current on technology, Dave was a leader and member of several book clubs and technical forums. He taught himself photography and developed his own pictures in a darkroom he built in the basement. He never ceased loving to learn.

But most of all he loved his family. He is survived by Fran, his wife of 70 years, daughter Winnie Ziter (Alan), daughter Linda Kirk and son Andy Kirk, grandchildren Matt Bryant (Brianna) and James Bryant (Tiffany) and great-grandchildren Colin, Raven and Evie.

A service will be held at 2PM on Monday March 20, 2023 at Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Transylvania County Library and/or Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church Music Fund.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

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