Obituary of Donald Kirk

NAUGATUCK- Mr. Donald C. Kirk, Sr., 93, of 123 May St., Naugatuck, died early Sunday morning July 12, 2009 at his home. He was the husband of Helen (Toth) Kirk. Mr. Kirk was born in Naugatuck, May 8, 1916, a son of the late Charles Alexander Kirk and Geneva May (Currey) Kirk and was a lifelong borough resident. He was educated in the local school system and was a 1934 graduate of Naugatuck High School where he was an All-Star Center on the Basketball team. He attended the University of Alabama. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WW II, serving in the Pacific Theater serving as Quartermaster 2nd Class aboard the USS Grimes (APA 172). He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal with one Battle Star, the WWII Victory medal and the Conn. Wartime Service Medal. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Episcopal Church and was a former member of the Vestry and was active with the Village Green Fair and other committee's of the church. He was a former Burgess during the 50's and was a former Fire Commissioner. He was also a former Commissioner of the Housing Authority and a former member of the Republican Town Committee, and a volunteer with the Ecumenical Food Bank for many years. He was a member of Post 17 American Legion and a former President of Chapter 495 AARP of Naugatuck. Active in a number of Masonic organizations, he was a member of Salem-Shepherd Lodge # 78 A.F & A.M.; the Naugatuck Fellowcraft Assoc.; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Waterbury; the Lafayette Consistory, 32nd Degree, Valley of Bridgeport. Besides his wife of 69 years, he leaves 2 daughters, Beverly Krayeski and her husband Joseph W. Krayeski and Joyce Alegi and her husband Dominic J, Alegi,Jr. all of Naugatuck; 2 sons, Donald C. Kirk, Jr. and his wife, Dariel Kirk of Richboro, PA and Ross J. Kirk of Waterbury; 6 granddaughters, Debra Olesen and her husband Erik Olesen of Greenwich, Susan Culotta and her husband Mark Culotta of Southington, Melinda McKenna and her husband Mark McKenna of Watertown, Atty Doreen Alegi and her husband Joseph Pieksza of Watertown, Stacy Kirk of Pittsburgh,PA and Amy Weisenberg and her husband Eric Weisenberg of Downingtown, PA; 7 great-grandchildren, Ryan and Jillian Olesen, Ethan and Eli Culotta, Madilyn and Allison McKenna and Julia Weisenberg. Donald's family would like to thank the following who have helped over the years; his Health Companion, Pamela Thomas, the Waterbury VNA- H.O.P.E. Team, the Naugatuck Visiting Nurses Assoc., Dr. Ralph Tremaglio, the "May St. Neighbors" and the thoughtful deeds of Postal Carrier Paul Mancini and the Republican-American Carrier Liz Traynor. His funeral will be held on Wednesday July 15, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. from the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. and proceed to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 210 Church St. for services at 10 a.m. Burial with full military honors will be in Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday July 14, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. Members of the Naugatuck Veterans Council will meet at the funeral home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. In Lieu of flowers friends are asked to make memorial contributions to the Ecumenical Food Bank, P.O. Box 796, Naugatuck, 06770-0796 or to the Waterbury VNA Health Care-H.O.P.E. Team, 50 Brookside Rd., Waterbury, 06708