James Darrell Kirk, 84, of Carthage died at 4:29 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. 

J.D., as he was known to his family and friends, was born on Nov. 20, 1923, in Gentry, Ark., and was the son of the late Martin L. and Josephine Kirk.He graduated from Gentry High School in 1941 where he then began his U.S. Army carrier of eight years. He served in WWII and he was a Sergeant in the 12th Army Group in Europe and  in the Hq.Co. 5421 Army Service during the Korean Conflict.

In 1953 J.D. graduated from John Brown University with post graduate work at University of Arkansas, Lincoln University and Kansas State Pittsburg, Kan. He taught high school science classes at Gentry, Ark., Camdenton, Mo., and Carthage, Mo. He retired in 1976. J.D. then owned and operated TV Sales business in Siloam, Ark. and Camdenton, Mo., and he was also a private dealer in Real Estate. He enjoyed buying and fixing up houses and in doing so he taught some of his students the carpenter trade..

J.D. was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 2590 of Carthage, Mo., and a member of the Southern Baptist Church.

He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Hopping of Bentonville, Ark.; one son, James D. Kirk Jr.; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; one brother, M.C. Kirk of Overland Park, Kan. 

J.D. was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Martin LeRoy Kirk and Charles Edwin Kirk and one sister, Jean Rosemary Kirk.

There will be an open visitation at Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage today from noon to 6 p.m., and graveside services will be at Gentry Cemetery in Gentry, Ark., at 2 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2008.

Contributions may be given to the Over 60 Center of Carthage in care of the funeral home.

Arrangements are under direction of Ulmer Funeral Home of Carthage, Mo., and Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Ark.