Bruce Kirkpatrick

Bruce Kirkpatrick, 84, of Baker City died March 5 at his home. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. March 13 at the First Presbyterian Church in Baker City with Pastor Susan Barnes officiating.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was born Feb. 19, 1922, to Chauncey and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick in Baker City. He graduated from Baker High School in 1940, and worked at his father's Chevrolet dealership.

He served in the Navy during World War II and attended the University of Oregon and the University of California at Los Angeles through the officers training program. He was commissioned an officer at Columbia University in 1944. After the war he graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

He opened a used car business in Baker City in 1946, and in 1949 married Anne Lumsden of La Grande. That year he bought the Studebaker dealership in Baker City. In 1950 he became a director on the board of Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan Association, now Firstbank. He served more than 50 years on that board.

In 1968 he became sales manager for Charles Haight Chevrolet in Baker City, and in 1973 he and Ken Dugan bought the business and renamed it B&K Chevrolet. He bought out his partner in 1979 and renamed the business Kirkpatrick Chevrolet Co. When he retired in 1986 the business was sold and became Ellison Motors.

He built and owned Valley Ho Marina in 1959 in Richland, and promoted the marina at Farewell Bend. He ran it for the state for serveral years. He was the first economic director of Baker City, and served on the Baker Industrial Development Commission. He was president of Kiwanis and the Baker County New Car Dealers Association, and a member of VFW, American Legion, the Eagles, Elks, Delta Upsilon and Boy Scouts.

Survivors include his wife and his brother, Bill Kirkpatrick, both of Baker City; children and their spouses, Kathy Kirkpatrick of St. Petersburg, Fla., Susan and Brent Lewis of La Grande, and John and Jeannie Kirkpatrick of Clarkston; a daughter in-law Dana Kirkpatrick Kutsch and her husband, Kim, of Jefferson; and seven grandchildren. A son, Bill Kirkpatrick, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City 97814