Obituary of Oran Gould Kirkpatrick

WW II Veteran, Oran Gould Kirkpatrick, Jr. at the age of 99, passed away peacefully at home in Rye, NY on August 12, 2023, just 2 1/2 months shy of his goal to reach 100.  

Oran was born in Rapallo, Italy on October 28, 1923 in the Villa Anna, where his mother, Lois Farnsworth, and his father, Oran Gould Kirkpatrick were studying abroad and singing opera. He was raised in San Antonio, Texas, where he was affectionately known as “Sonny”.  His family opened the first Tex Mex restaurant  named “The Original” on the San Antonio River in the 1880’s .  Oran was a direct descendant of Erasmus “Deaf Smith”,  the famous Texas hero from the battle of San Jacinto.  

In his junior year at Texas A&M, he was called into service for World War II, where as a first Lieutenant he became Company Commander of a signal heavy construction unit stationed in New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon. He moved to the Marines to see more combat and entered Nagasaki, Japan two days after the atomic bomb was dropped.

At the end of the war, Oran was able to return to Texas A&M to finish a degree in Industrial Engineering. His career began at the George A. Hormel Company in Austin, MN and later he joined the General Foods Corporation where he worked for 37 years.  While in the White Plains headquarters of GF, Oran became President of Kohner Toys.  Following Oran’s 1984 retirement from General Foods,  he and a partner, Allan Rosen, formed Nationmark, a wholesale toy distribution company operating in the greater south and southwest.  The partners would later form an extension company called Excite, based in Hong Kong. 

Oran married Patricia Eintracht of Teaneck, NJ in 1946 and together they had four surviving children, David John Kirkpatrick of Centennial, CO, Janice K. Forbes (Arthur O.) of Carbondale, CO, Lois Marie Downing (Timothy) of Boulder, CO, and Kathy Gail MacGowan, (Dr. Daniel) of Manhattan, NY.   Patricia died in 1977 and Oran married Maureen Daly Brown of Rye, NY in 1979, acquiring three surviving step-children;  Holly Elizabeth Seymour (William) of Glastonbury, CT,  Caroline Anne Acuna (Hernando) of Rye, NY; and Charles Stuart Brown, Jr. of Myrtle Beach, SC.  Together they have eleven grandchildren, Aurora Kirkpatrick, Kate Forbes Louras, Nicholas Forbes, Megan Downing, John Downing, Lucy MacGowan, Aidan MacGowan, Trevor Quinones, William Alexander, Jr., Riley Brown, Ginger Belle Brown, and five great grandchildren. Oran was predeceased by his sister, Lois Farnsworth Hull, and his brother, John Otis Kirkpatrick. Oran leaves his brother’s spouse Jay Hodges, three nephews, one niece, and their families, all of Texas.

As a longtime resident of Rye, NY Oran donated his time to many community activities, serving  as President of the Rye Free Reading Room and the Rye United Way. Oran was active as a Deacon, Elder, and Trustee at the Rye Presbyterian Church, where he also taught fourth graders.  He acquired a Realtors license later in life to support his wife. His memberships included The Apawamis Club for 53 years, The American Yacht Club, and in previous years, The Manursing Island Club.  

Oran and Maureen took many trips around the world with friends and family.  They created special vacations with grandchildren to London, Italy, Alaska, and France.   During the last trip to France, they stopped in Normandy where Oran was honored with bestowing the wreath at a ceremony for American soldiers lost to war.  

One of Oran’s favorite things was his Tuesday golf games with the “Apawamis regulars”.  He enjoyed his book clubs, bridge and tennis games and ski weeks out west with friends.

He derived great joy from family gatherings and holiday dinners, particularly those that celebrated his birthdays and the witty ditties that accompanied them. Oran’s face would light up at the sight of a grandchild and it was common for him to be inquisitive, asking questions to find out where life’s travels were taking them. 

Oran was a beacon of light for his family and a pillar of strength to all.  He leaves behind a life well-lived and a continued love for San Antonio.  He was a man who loved and was loved.  

A Military Memorial Service will be held at Rye Presbyterian Church at 11am, Saturday September 9, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Rye Free Reading Room, 1051 Boston Post Road, Rye or the Rye Presbyterian Church, 882 Boston Post Road, Rye.