Kenneth Kirk

Kenneth G. Kirk, 88, of Dallas passed away on March 27, 2021 and is now in glory with Jesus. He was born in West Wyoming, PA on June 18, 1932 and was the son of the late George Kirk and Blanche Thompson Kirk. He was preceded in death by a sister Marlyn.

Ken was a graduate of West Wyoming High School and received his BS from Bloomsburg State Teachers College in Business Education and his MS from the Pennsylvania State University in Business and Accounting. He also did graduate work at Bucknell University and Marywood College. While in college he served as a PIAA basketball official.

He taught Business Education in the Catawissa School District and then Dallas School District as Business Department Chairperson and teacher. He also coached basketball in both of those high schools. He taught evening school at Wilkes College. Following his secondary school teaching he was employed as an Assistant Professor at Bloomsburg State College (BSC) in the Business Department. After several years at BSC, he transferred to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as a Field Advisor to School Districts, Intermediate Units (IU), Area Vocational Technical Schools (AVTS)/Career & Technology Centers (CTC), and colleges in the counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

As a PDE Advisor, he was instrumental in the development and approval of business courses at Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), advised in the construction funding and development of programs of West Side AVTS, Wilkes-Barre AVTS, and the Susquehanna County AVTS. He advised and aided schools in the development of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapters and served as a judge in the FBLA State Leadership Conference.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, he was assigned to administer Luzerne IU #18 Housing Rehabilitation-Wyoming Valley Project funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This project involved vocational teachers and students from West Side AVTS, Wilkes-Barre AVTS, and Hazleton AVTS rehabilitating houses.

Upon retiring from PDE, he served as a consultant at LCCC, AVTS’s/CTC’s, and School Districts.

As a student at Bloomsburg State Teachers College he received the President Harvey A. Andruss Scholarship and was a member and officer in Pi Omega Pi and Phi Sigma Pi. At Penn State, he received the Family Finance Scholarship and held membership in Delta Pi Epsilon.

He held PDE certification in Business Education (Accounting, Typewriting, Shorthand, Office Practice, Business Law, Economics), Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Charge of Business Affairs, and Supervisor of Vocational Education.

He served over 25 years as a Trustee at Lackawanna College and received the title of Trustee Emeritus. He was an elected Dallas Township Auditor, and served on the Hanover Bank and First Valley Bank Advisory Boards. Fifty Year Member of Wyoming Lodge #468, F & AM. Caldwell Consistory, and Irem Shriners. Member of the Shavertown United Methodist Church and served several years as Administrative Board Secretary and Church Auditor.

He is survived by his wife of over 62 years, Patricia Edwards Kirk, daughter Gayle Ann Cobb (late husband David), son Kenneth Gary Kirk and wife Kimberly, grandchildren Stephanie and Sara Cobb, Andrew Kirk, Alexa Schlichter and husband Nathan, great grandchildren Lily and Cassidy Schlichter.

Funeral service will be held, Wednesday, March  31, 2021 at 12:00 Noon from The Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, Inc. 2940 memorial Highway, Dallas, Pa. 18612 with The Rev. Robin Baer, pastor, Shavertown United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Fern Knoll Burial Park. Friends may call Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and again Wednesday from 11:00 to 12:00. COVID 19 requirements will be followed, masks and social distancing. Online condolences can be made at Disquefuneralhome.com.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Shavertown United Methodist Church, 163 N. Pioneer Ave., Shavertown, PA 18708 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140.