Master and Commander
Posts: 1011
Location: NE Florida | Subject: Sunday Obit
KIRKLAND .. .. June 16, 1943 - October 18, 2023. Belton, Missouri - Weldon Troy Kirkland passed away Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was 80. Troy was a giving person that touched the lives of many throughout a very diverse and interesting life. Troy was born June 16, 1943, in Seymour, TX, the son of Weldon and Edith Kirkland, and he had a brother and two sisters. He grew up in what could be called a nomadic lifestyle. His father was a truck driver, cotton picker, and a wandering spirit that couldn't stay in one place for long. During his formative years, the family bounced between Western Texas and the deserts of Arizona, living in small towns like Post, TX, Hassayampa, AZ, Agua Caliente, AZ, Hyder, AZ, the list goes on. As a result of this migratory lifestyle, he attended 17 different schools before graduating high school.
After graduating high school in 1960, he joined the US Navy, attending bootcamp in San Diego. His first ship assignment was a mine sweep, the USS Force based in Long Beach. As his career progressed, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Davidson during the Vietnam War, recruiting duty while based in Independence, MO – where he was promoted to Chief, the youngest at that time - followed by joining the submarine service. His first submarine was the USS Gurnard where he was deployed on multiple Westpac as well as a visit to the North Pole. His final deployment was as chief of the boat (COB) on the USS Drum during the final years of the Cold War.
Following his retirement from the Navy as a Master Chief, he was a Navy civilian instructor for 22 years, and during this period, spent his free time with family, sailing his boat Sparkle, and traveling the world with his wife Judy, who sadly passed away in 2004.
Troy suffered a stroke in 2010, and as a result his speech was severely impacted. The prognosis was not good, and doctors did not expect significant improvement. However, Troy, who had developed an extraordinary amount of tenacity through childhood and a challenging career, viewed things differently. He had always been a fighter, and that character trait never faded. He attended speech therapy classes at San Diego State University until 2016, and after moving to Kansas City, continued speech therapy at the University of Kansas until he was unable to physically attend.
Finally, there was nothing more important to Troy than family. He adored his children and grandchildren and was always supportive and very proud. He loved the Red Sox; he loved March Madness; he loved college basketball; he loved re-hashing childhood memories with his brother and sisters; he absolutely loved life.
Troy leaves behind a family that will miss him dearly. His sons Jon and Paul Kirkland, daughter Annith Waggoner, grandchildren Austin Kirkland, Ashleigh Waggoner, Kaitlyn Waggoner, sister Anne Kirkland, brother Marvin Kirkland, and sister Kay Sutterfield. A celebration of life is being planned and will be announced soon. |
Sunday Obit
