V. E. Kilpatrick, Jr., 25, railroad brakeman, saved Christopher A. Smith, 5, from being struck by a train, Weiner, Arkansas, October 2, 1968. (See case of WALLACE L. SMITH.)
50466 – 5543
50466-5543Obituary
V.E. “Butch” Kilpatrick, Jr., son of Virgil Elmo and Faye Belle Kilpatrick, was born on Oct. 5, 1943, in Orange, Tex. Kilpatrick worked as a brakeman and conductor for the railroad for 38 years and retired at the age of 60. He was of the Baptist faith and a member of the First Baptist Church in Brinkley, Ark. He was married to his wife, Joan, for 49 years.
Over several years, he experienced many serious health challenges. He died at the age of 74 on May 23, 2018, at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Before falling ill, he enjoyed various mechanical work. One of his proudest moments was getting his old tractor running again. He was always “piddling” to repair whatever he could. Family was everything to Kilpatrick, and he sought to care for them the best way possible.
(Edited from an obituary published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on May 26, 2018.)