Dutch VanKirk was the last surviving crew member of the Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945.
But he was more than his military service.
Family and friends remember VanKirk as a wonderful friend and father.
Jim Starnes lives at Park Springs, the same retirement community in Stone Mountain where VanKirk lived, and said VanKirk was “full of fun, full of laughter. He had a positive outlook on life.”
Starnes said the two were friends for 10 years, and never took themselves too seriously, although both played important roles in ending World War II.
The friends bonded over their war experiences. Both were navigators, VanKirk of the B-29 named Enola Gay and Starnes of the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, and they spoke about WWII at schools, clubs and events together.
VanKirk would say about the atomic bomb drop, “Well that must end the war.”
“I said, ‘Well you didn’t know it then, but you were handing it over to me to make it official,’” said Starnes, who was on board the Missouri when Japan surrendered and the war ended.
“He was just a real good friend, a great guy,” said Starnes. “He was a great person to be with.”
Theodore VanKirk, 93, died July 28 of natural causes at Park Springs retirement community. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home in VanKirk’s hometown of Northumberland, Pa. The funeral is planned for 10 a.m. Aug. 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northumberland. A private interment will follow the service. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service in Snellville and Joseph W. Epler in Northumberland are in charge of arrangements. Those interested can give donations in VanKirk’s name to the Woudned Warrior Project.
“He was the best father ever,” said VanKirk’s daughter Vicki Triplett. “He was just wonderful.”
VanKirk was actively involved in family life. He was a Boy Scout leader and a baseball coach. He was involved in the community.
VanKirk took time to talk to anyone who had questions for him, and Triplett said he was always active. VanKirk loved telling jokes and making people laugh.
“We had many years, thankfully, to be with him,” said Triplett. “We were just very lucky to have him. He lived a long and happy life.”
In addition to his daughter, of Lawrenceville, Theodore VanKirk is survived by daughter Joanne Gotelli of Elk Grove, Calif.; sons Thomas VanKirk of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Larry VanKirk of Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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