Dr. Reuben "Barney" Kirkpatrick

Reuben A. (Barney) Kirkpatrick passed away surrounded by family on January 1st, 2020, at the age of 88. Barney was born April 7th, 1931, in Tulsa Oklahoma to parents E. Austin Kirkpatrick and Edna Boston Kirkpatrick. Barney spent his youth in Eufala, later moving to Tulsa with his family, graduating from Will Rogers High School in 1949. While in high school Barney joined the Naval Reserve and spent several summers as a Seaman Recruit on destroyer cruises in the Caribbean. He was also an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Upon graduating high school, Barney attended Oklahoma A&M College (OSU) where he majored in Mechanical Engineering and was a member and Vice-President of Sigma Chi Fraternity. While at OSU Barney worked at the Alpha Chi Sorority house as a houseboy where he met Mary Allen Gray. They married in 1954 and enjoyed a long and blessed marriage. Following their graduations from OSU, Barney and Mary moved and lived throughout Oklahoma and Texas while Barney worked for Mobile Oil Company as a petroleum engineer. He answered the call of service to our country and entered the Air Force as an engineer working in the Rocket Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio. While stationed there Barney decided to refocus his engineering efforts to pursue a career in dentistry and enrolled in the University of Missouri/Kansas City Dental College. He graduated from Dental School in 1960 and was immediately accepted into the Orthodontic Masters Program. Barney began his orthodontic career in Tulsa in 1962 and continued at the same location on Harvard Avenue until his retirement in 1995. Barney was a member of the Tulsa County and Oklahoma State Dental Society. He also served as President of the Oklahoma Orthodontic Society, as well as President of the Southwest Society of Orthodontists. During his career, Barney championed the idea of the satellite office and expanded his practice to northeast Oklahoma, making orthodontics readily accessible to those underserved communities. Although his practice kept Barney busy, the home life he built with Mary Allen was busier, raising five kids. Barney was an active Indian Guide Leader and rarely missed a little league baseball or softball game. While his kids were in high school and college he chaired the Board of Young Life and served on the OSU Foundation. Barney and Mary were members of Asbury United Methodist Church. After retirement, Barney and Mary moved to Monkey Island at Grand Lake. There they rekindled college friendships and made new friends, enjoying hobbies of fishing and golf. They were known to host infamous firework shows with the grandkids, as well as festive hog roasts and Halloween parties. At the lake Barney and Mary were active members of Cleora Methodist Church and Meals on Wheels. Barney is survived by Mary Allen, his faithful wife of 65 years, and one brother, Jerry Kirkpatrick and wife, Mary Scott Kirkpatrick, of Miami, Oklahoma. Barney leaves five children: Tom and wife Lee Anne of Tulsa, Steve and wife Lori of Bartlesville, Greg and wife Alice of Tulsa, Doug and wife LaDonna of Tulsa, and Kathy and husband Rusty Hendrickson of Edmond, Oklahoma. Barney had fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Barney was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a Loyal and True supporter of OSU sports and the Oklahoma State College of Engineering. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of integrity and devotion, with a good bit of prankster on the side. A memorial service will be held Monday, January 6th, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. in the Mason Chapel of Asbury Methodist Church, 6767 South Mingo, Tulsa, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma State Foundation/College of Engineering or to The Oklahoma Family Network, supporting Oklahoma children with cancer and special needs, in memory of Barney Kirkpatrick: P.O. Box 21072, Oklahoma City, OK 73156-1072.

Dr. Reuben "Barney" Kirkpatrick

April 7, 1931 - January 1, 2020