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In memory of

Dr. Perry William Kirklin

Lakeland, FL

February 28, 1935 - May 5, 2020

Feb 28, 1935 - May 5, 2020

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Reflections of Life
Dr. Perry William Kirklin, Jr. was born February 28, 1935 in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania the second of six children born to Perry Kirklin Sr. and Martha Peek Kirklin. He graduated in 1953 from Lincoln High School where he excelled in academics and football. He worked his way through Westminster College on football and academic scholarships. Then, he attended graduate school the University of Minnesota on assistantships, fellowships, grants and loans where he earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1964.
Perry’s journey in becoming a devout Christian began when he was christened and raised in Trinity AME Church in Ellwood City. In 1967, after moving to the Philadelphia area, he was baptized at Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown (PA) where he was an active servant for 37 years. In 1968, he enrolled in the Salem Bible Institute, an auxiliary of Salem Baptist Church. In his 4th year of Bible study, with renewed knowledge and understanding, he gave his life to Christ. In 2004, he and his wife, Betty, relocated to Lakeland, Florida where they were pleased to find and join Word Alive Ministries.
Dr. Kirklin had a broad industrial and academic career. Most notably, he worked as a senior research chemist for Mobil Oil. He published peer reviewed papers on magnetic resonance, catalysts to manufacture gasoline and jet fuel, automobile emissions and aviation fuel tests and properties. He holds a patent for improving thermal stability of jet fuel. In addition, Dr. Kirklin co-chaired an international symposium on jet fuel thermal stability that resulted in an ASTM book publication. After taking an early retirement from the industry, Perry taught full-time at Bloomfield College (NJ) and Cheney University (PA). He also taught adjunct courses at Montgomery County Community College (PA) and Polk County Community College (FL).
Perry had a long and distinguished career in volunteer and community service. He tutored and mentored numerous students from his church and community. He served on the board of directors of two non-profit day care centers, a federal credit union, and the intentional co-operative community, Bryn Gweled Homesteads in Southampton, PA where they lived for 40 years. He chaired Bucks County (PA) and Philadelphia regional committees on health planning and served on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Health. He organized an award winning program with Mobil Oil to adopt a middle school in Camden, NJ that motivated women and minorities in STEM careers. In addition, he served annually on the National Organization of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers Science Bowl committee.
Perry had a keen interest in his African heritage. He made several trips to Ghana where he visited the village of Kuntu and consistently donated school supplies. In 2002, the village chiefs and elders of Kuntu installed him as their Nkosohen or Development Chief with the stool name, Nana Kwame Baffoe II. He founded the non-profit charity corporation, Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee -USA in 2003 to focus on Kuntu literacy and self-sufficiency. Since 2005, KVNC has paid high school fees for over 100 Kuntu youth, college/vocational fees for 18 Kuntu students, and contributed to other humanitarian efforts.
In 1956, Perry married the love of his life, Betty Lampkins. They were married for 64 years and shared a life that took them around the world, kept them connected to family, and built prosperity in living and love. Perry was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Joyce Perry of Wichita Falls, TX. He is survived by his wife, three children, Dr. Cheryl Merrell (Robert Merrell) of Winter Haven, Fl, Perry Kirklin III (Anaa Kirklin) of Mountain View, HI, and Dr. Pamela June (Charles Roland) of Lake Wales, FL; two brothers Percy Kirklin of Los Angeles, CA and Dr. Duane Kirklin (Ruby Kirklin) of Monrovia, MD and two sisters, Portia Dixon of Bowie, MD and Letitia Dyson of Washington, DC, as well as eleven grandchildren, an adopted grandson, two great-grandsons, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Dr. Kirklin chose to be cremated and have a local Celebration of Life and burial of his ashes in his beloved Kuntu village, Ghana, West Africa. In lieu of flowers or if you would like to make a tribute Dr. Perry Kirklin, the family asks that donations be given to Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee – USA (www.ghanavillage.org)

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