Welcome to the memorial page for
Charles Wesley Newkirk
February 20, 1916 ~ May 30, 2014 (age 98) 98 Years OldShare using:
Charles Wesley “Wes” Newkirk, 98, of Cynthiana, KY, died peacfully Friday, May 30, 2014 at Cedar Ridge Health Care Campus, in Cynthiana.
Wes was born February 20, 1916 in Cincinnati, OH, the son of Charles and Jessie (Buchanan) Newkirk. As a child, Wes lived in Berkeley, CA before returning to Cincinnati. He enjoyed summers in Michigan with his family at Clark Lake.
Wes graduated in 1935 from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati and later attended the University of Cincinnati. While in college, he met Elizabeth (Betty) Wente and they married June 19, 1943. Shortly thereafter he became a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He led a half-track unit in the 777th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division, which was part of General Patton’s Third Army. He landed on Utah Beach June 19, 1944 (“D-13”) and fought in six major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. In addition to numerous battle ribbons, Wes was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1945. As part of a Veterans Day celebration, he received an honorary college diploma from the University of Cincinnati in November 2008.
After the war, he returned to Hamilton, OH where he pursued a career handling the finances of Wente Electric and Wente Construction Companies. Wes invested much time in community service activities. He was a founder of the Boys Club of Hamilton, served on the Board of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton United Way, Westover Retirement Center, and Dan Beard Council, and was a lifetime member of the Rotary Club in Hamilton and later in Cynthiana. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton and, after moving to Kentucky, an active member of the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church.
Wes had a wide range of interests. He was an avid reader, collected and worked on classic cars, was a talented woodworker, gardener, and especially enjoyed exploring back roads of Kentucky. He and Betty enthusiastically shared a passion for studying and collecting antiques and for preserving historic buildings. With Betty’s planning and Wes’ work to implement the plans, together they restored the 1812 Coleman-Desha house in Cynthiana. Their work was featured in Early American Life Magazine and the book American Wall Stenciling: 1790-1840 by Ann Eckert Brown.
Wes was a true gentleman, a thoughtful, engaging person with a keen sense of humor, curiosity and appreciation for adventure. He enjoyed family gatherings and took pleasure in hearing about the accomplishments and antics of the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Newkirk (Jonathan) Wright of San Diego, CA and Nancie Newkirk (Donald) Loppnow of Ypsilanti, MI; four grandchildren, Abigail Wright (Fabio) Scano, Rebecca Wright (Brian) Horn, Sara Loppnow (Leonard) Bellisario, and Stephen (Erica) Loppnow; and seven great grandchildren: Eleonora and Edoardo Scano, Benjamin and Wesley Horn, Dominic and Roman Bellisario, and Estelle Rose Loppnow. His parents, wife, and brother, William, preceded him in death.
The family is immensely appreciative of the care Wes received during the past several years. Those who deserve special mention are Tammy McCall, Viola Fryman, Robert and Janet Spigles, and the staff at Cedar Ridge. Wes had a wide circle of friends who were attentive to his needs. He enjoyed their company and their visits over the years.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Sat. June 28, 2014 at the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church, with visiting at 10:00 AM . At his request, Wes' body was bequeathed to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Body Donation Program. Memorial donations may be directed to the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church (103 N. Main St., P.O. Box 456, Cynthiana, KY 41031), the Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library (104 N. Main St., Cynthiana, KY 41031), the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, Ohio, (958 East Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio 45011), or a charity of your choice.
Wes was born February 20, 1916 in Cincinnati, OH, the son of Charles and Jessie (Buchanan) Newkirk. As a child, Wes lived in Berkeley, CA before returning to Cincinnati. He enjoyed summers in Michigan with his family at Clark Lake.
Wes graduated in 1935 from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati and later attended the University of Cincinnati. While in college, he met Elizabeth (Betty) Wente and they married June 19, 1943. Shortly thereafter he became a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He led a half-track unit in the 777th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, 6th Armored Division, which was part of General Patton’s Third Army. He landed on Utah Beach June 19, 1944 (“D-13”) and fought in six major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. In addition to numerous battle ribbons, Wes was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1945. As part of a Veterans Day celebration, he received an honorary college diploma from the University of Cincinnati in November 2008.
After the war, he returned to Hamilton, OH where he pursued a career handling the finances of Wente Electric and Wente Construction Companies. Wes invested much time in community service activities. He was a founder of the Boys Club of Hamilton, served on the Board of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton United Way, Westover Retirement Center, and Dan Beard Council, and was a lifetime member of the Rotary Club in Hamilton and later in Cynthiana. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton and, after moving to Kentucky, an active member of the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church.
Wes had a wide range of interests. He was an avid reader, collected and worked on classic cars, was a talented woodworker, gardener, and especially enjoyed exploring back roads of Kentucky. He and Betty enthusiastically shared a passion for studying and collecting antiques and for preserving historic buildings. With Betty’s planning and Wes’ work to implement the plans, together they restored the 1812 Coleman-Desha house in Cynthiana. Their work was featured in Early American Life Magazine and the book American Wall Stenciling: 1790-1840 by Ann Eckert Brown.
Wes was a true gentleman, a thoughtful, engaging person with a keen sense of humor, curiosity and appreciation for adventure. He enjoyed family gatherings and took pleasure in hearing about the accomplishments and antics of the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Newkirk (Jonathan) Wright of San Diego, CA and Nancie Newkirk (Donald) Loppnow of Ypsilanti, MI; four grandchildren, Abigail Wright (Fabio) Scano, Rebecca Wright (Brian) Horn, Sara Loppnow (Leonard) Bellisario, and Stephen (Erica) Loppnow; and seven great grandchildren: Eleonora and Edoardo Scano, Benjamin and Wesley Horn, Dominic and Roman Bellisario, and Estelle Rose Loppnow. His parents, wife, and brother, William, preceded him in death.
The family is immensely appreciative of the care Wes received during the past several years. Those who deserve special mention are Tammy McCall, Viola Fryman, Robert and Janet Spigles, and the staff at Cedar Ridge. Wes had a wide circle of friends who were attentive to his needs. He enjoyed their company and their visits over the years.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Sat. June 28, 2014 at the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church, with visiting at 10:00 AM . At his request, Wes' body was bequeathed to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Body Donation Program. Memorial donations may be directed to the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church (103 N. Main St., P.O. Box 456, Cynthiana, KY 41031), the Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library (104 N. Main St., Cynthiana, KY 41031), the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, Ohio, (958 East Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio 45011), or a charity of your choice.
A service summary is not available
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