Wilfred "Bud" Kirkman

Wilfred A. “Bud” Kirkman, 86, a longtime resident of Millbury, passed away surrounded by the ones he loved Monday, April 22, 2024, after a period of declining health.

 Bud was born in Lawrence, the oldest of six children of Wilfred A. Kirkman, Sr and Valerie (Bruzzo) Kirkman. He graduated from Methuen High School and then served four years in the United States Air Force as an Electronic Warfare Technician servicing fighter jets at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. This experience helped Bud become the person he was and instilled in him the love of country that he always carried with him. 

 In January of 1964, Bud married Geraldine “Gerry” Brain. They then began a 60-year life of love, faith, and family. Bud and Gerry moved to Stillwater Oklahoma where Bud earned his Associate degree in Fire Protection Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Oklahoma State University (OSU). 

 While in Oklahoma Gerry worked as a Registered Nurse to support the family. These were simple times as Bud and Gerry worked together to achieve their goals. They were supported by the love they had for each other and for their family that was starting to take shape. Their son Jim had been born before they left for Oklahoma and Anne Marie was born in Oklahoma.

 After graduating from OSU the family moved to Millbury, MA where they continued to raise their family. Their youngest daughter Kate was born after their arrival.

Bud then began a life in the Fire Service as a Fire Protection Engineer working in the property and casualty insurance industry first for Chubb Insurance and then for the Alexander and Alexander Insurance Brokerage Corporation. Bud also served as a 20 year on-call firefighter for the Millbury Fire Department.

 While Bud’s job involved a lot of travel that kept him away from home for periods of time, he loved spending time with his young family and taking vacations with them. This included family camping trips to New Hampshire, visits to Disney World, the U.S. Virgin Islands and many other vacations. 

 Bud will always be remembered for his love of people, enjoyment of conversation and his desire to connect with people to learn more about them and share his views and knowledge.  

 This love of family and travel continued during his grand-parent years as Bud and Gerry would accompany their children and grandchildren on their vacations. His grandchildren were always excited to have Grampa with them as his sense of humor, generosity, endless conversations and his love for them always made the vacations extra special. 

 His love of his grandchildren was one of his defining characteristics. Bud and Gerry always enjoyed being a part of their grandchildren’s many youth sport activities, plays, concerts and ceremonies. This was in addition to the many holiday events, birthday parties and cookouts that the family celebrated. He had a way of making each of his grandchildren feel special and that they were very important to him. 

 Even in his later years his spirit of volunteerism and love of country was demonstrated through the years that he volunteered as an election worker where he would warmly welcome each voter. 

 Bud is survived by his wife Gerry; his three children, Jim Kirkman and his wife Mimi of Acton, Anne Marie Hawkes and her husband Glenn of Newburyport, Kate Hoitt and her husband Jim of Acton; three brothers, Ronald Kirkman of Needham, Alan Kirkman of Laconia NH, and Richard Kirkman of Salem, NH; a sister, Valerie Sideri of Methuen.  Also, seven grandchildren, he loved and took great pride in, Kaylee, Grace, Elizabeth, Alex, Brady, Meredith and Sarah; Many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.  A brother, Jack Kirkman predeceased him.

 Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours Thursday, April 25th , from 4 pm to 7 pm followed by a prayer service at 7, in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. Worcester MA. 

 Burial with Air Force Military Honors will be held Friday, April 26^th at 11 am in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Rd Winchendon.  The family requests that flowers be omitted, and memorial remembrances in his name be made to Home for Our Troops, 6 Main St  Taunton, Ma 02780.