Earl W. Kilpatrick

Earl Warren Kilpatrick, 85, of Frederick, and formerly of St. Mary's County, passed away in his home on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010. Earl was born in Cotesfield, Neb., on Sept. 22, 1925. He survived farm life, the Great Depression and then World War II and the Korean War, where he served as a corporal in the U. S. Army Signal Corps. He and his beautiful bride, Marilyn Anderson, were married in June 1950. He sent himself to college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. After graduation he began his career in intelligence with the Department of Defense. Family life began in earnest in 1951 when Earl and Marilyn had the first of their 11 children. After graduation, the growing family settled in the Washington area. During his tenure at the National Security Agency, he most fondly remembered his trip to Paris with President Kennedy and his staff. After retiring, he became the jeweler he always wanted to be and worked from his little shop in the family home. One of his final outings in his life was to visit, at his special request, the World War II and FDR Memorials in Washington. Earl was moved by the monuments, but even more by the appreciation and support he received from complete strangers he encountered during his visit. The strangers who approached him and thanked him for his service moved him to tears. Earl served our country proudly and held respect and gratitude for all those who also serve to protect our great country. Earl will be remembered in fondness by his children, Linda Lauer and her husband, Larry, Greg Kilpatrick, Ed Kilpatrick and his wife, Janet, Kristy Malochee and her husband, Pierre, Mike Kilpatrick and his wife, Jeanne, Darrell Kilpatrick and his wife, Jean, Karen Hull and her husband, Greg, Duane Kilpatrick, Monica Garten, Marty Kilpatrick and his wife, Jen, and Kim Guassardo and her husband, Mark. Also remembering him with love are his 23 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Kilpatrick's visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, Frederick. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 7 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Olney. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Aspen Hill. Online condolences may be shared at KeeneyBasford.com.