Obituary of Van Kirk

VanKirkBetty Elizabeth (Betty) Dutton Hornbeck Van Kirk Elizabeth (Betty) Dutton Hornbeck Van Kirk, age 83, formerly of Buckhannon, WV, died January 6, 2009 in Stuart, FL. Born April 27, 1925 in Morgantown, WV, she was the daughter of the late Glenn R. and Pauline Pyle Dutton. She attended West Virginia University and was best known as an author and journalist with the Republican Delta newspaper in Buckhannon, WV. She covered the socio-political revolution of the 1960’s with irreverence, humor, and style in her weekly front-page news column entitled West Virginia Whirligig. Her journalism career covered 39 years including early positions with the Buckhannon (WV) Record, East St. Louis (IL) Journal, Clarksburg (WV) Exponent, Parkersburg (WV) News, and the Bluefield (WV) Telegraph. She is the author of the Civil War chronicle “Upshur Brothers of the Blue and the Gray.” Prior to her retirement in 1981, she served West Virginia Wesleyan College as Director of College Relations under the leadership of then college president Jay Rockefeller. Upon her retirement, she was honored with the creation of the Betty Hornbeck Van Kirk Media Scholarship Fund to provide educational funds to aspiring journalists. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, charter member and past president of the YWCA, Chapter 18 Order of Eastern Star, and Upshur County Historical Society, all of Buckhannon; former member of WV Public Relations Association and WV Press Association; former member of Buckhannon Country Club; served 12 years as secretary of Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce; member of Martin County Golf and Country Club in Stuart FL; and involved with administrative and social committees of Conquistador Homeowners Association in Stuart, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Van Kirk, in January 2000. Surviving are two sons, David Dutton Hornbeck and wife Judi, of Manteo, NC; William R. Hornbeck and wife Margaret, of Leesburg, VA; one daughter, Lorna Ann Hornbeck Taylor, of Vacaville, CA; one sister, Dorothy Dutton Short, of Buckhannon, WV; one nephew, Bartley Dutton Short of Buckhannon, WV; six grandchildren, Jennifer Hornbeck Johnson of Kinston, NC; Jeffrey Dutton Hornbeck of Clayton, NC; Brian Dutton Hornbeck of Ashburn, VA; Stephanie Hornbeck Chadwick of Charlotte, NC; Jessica Eldredge Knutson and Angela Eldredge Cope, both of Vacaville, CA. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren; Karlie Knutson, Benjamin Hornbeck, Will Hornbeck, Bronwyn Hornbeck, Connor Chadwick, Alexandra Chadwick, Kathryn Hornbeck, Benjamin Cope and Olivia Knutson. One stepson, Wayne Van Kirk of Houston, TX and stepdaughter, Susan Van Kirk Tucker of Fruitland, MD, seven step-grandchildren and one step-great grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Betty Hornbeck Van Kirk Media Scholarship Fund, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV 26201. Friends will be received Friday, January 9, 2009 from 6-8 PM at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home in Buckhannon. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Saturday at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Damon Rhodes officiating. Burial will follow in the Heavner Cemetery. Visitation Friday, January 9, 2009 from 6-8 PM Poling-St.Clair Funeral Home Funeral Service Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 2 PM Funeral Home Burial Heavner Cemetery