Douglas Kirk Wirt Obituary (1927 - 2019)

Born Nov 01, 1927, Douglas Kirk Wirt attended William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Douglas Kirk Wirt.

Graduation Year	Class of 1948
Date of Birth	Nov 01, 1927
Date of Passing	Feb 28, 2019
About	The song is ended, but the melody lingers on… (Irving Berlin) We honor and celebrate the life of our beloved Douglas Kirk Wirt who passed to his home in heaven on Thursday, February 28, 2019. Doug’s “song” enriched all who’s lives he touched. He was a man of faith who deeply revered family and was never happier than when he was lending a helping hand or listening with care to friends and family. Doug was equally a fun-loving man who was passionate about playing golf, loved watching sports of all kinds (but especially anytime his Cowboys could beat his sister’s Skins or cheering for any team to beat VA Tech). Doug loved dogs all his life and in recent years, he was tickled pink singing with his furry son, Jake, and later playing ball with his furry son, Chester. Doug delighted in playing (and winning) at cards. Spending hours on the beach during his annual family vacations at North Myrtle Beach, SC taking pictures of sunrises and playing bocce ball brought him endless joy. Every evening Doug celebrated life by raising a toast for ‘happy-happy hour’ inviting all to join him. In later years, he spent hours watching from his sunroom all the gorgeous birds that came to his many feeders, framed by his favorite rose bushes, and taking bb-gun potshots at the lively squirrels who he felt had no right to horn in on his birds’ food. Doug continued to make new dear friends and spend time with life-long friends. Kathy, Jeanne, Sharon, Patricia and Billy warmed his heart and shared laughs until the time he left. He was blessed to receive kind, skilled and heart-felt care from an amazing team of caregivers, Patricia, Wudie, Faith, JJ, Carolyn and other dear angels who made it possible for him to live out his last months at home…the heart of all he held dear. Doug was born in Vinton to Madie Helen and Ellet Wirt, the oldest of four children. He learned early the values of hard work and responsibility, managing a paper route, then opening the local country store before school. As a young man, Doug played football and fell in love with a young cheerleader at his school. He left to serve in the Army during the Korean war, as a communications lieutenant using morse code. Returning home, he married that young cheerleader, Norma Jean Pattison, who was now in nursing school. He went to work for GE in the machine shop, later becoming an expediter which he did until his retirement. Doug and Norma raised 3 girls, Laura, Melissa and Gracey. Even while raising children, taking care of aging parents, raising a garden that in large part fed his family, he remained devoted to church where he served as a deacon and volunteered at the Cave Spring Rescue Squad. Doug tirelessly served for more than 30 years at the rescue squad; only ceasing to run calls when he was 72 years old. Once Doug and Norma were retired, in between continuing to take care of family and serve the community, they traveled the country on numerous bus trips, cruised to Alaska and traveled on a three week tour of Europe with family; managing in their later 70s to keep up with, and sometimes exceed, a tour group of 30, 40, and 50 year olds. Doug lost the love of his life, Norma, in 2012 and our hearts warm to think of them finally reunited, dancing together once again. Preceding him also were his brothers Herbert Wirt and Loomis (Jack) Wirt, his sister-in-law, Norma Lee Wirt; and brother-in-law Jim Garrett. Those who will carry his memories and love and joy, along with the sadness that he’s no longer with us include: his much loved little sister Darlene Garrett of Roanoke; the lights of his life, his daughters, Laura Morris of Vinton, Melissa Wirt of Palm Harbor, Fl, and Gracey (Helen) Humbert of Botetourt, Va, His Grandaughters, Whitney Morris, Christine Gill, Ally Wilhelm, Camille Humbert, spouses and partners Chris Pruett, Chris Stump and Will Humbert, many dear in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends, and neighbors who will all miss him dearly. Visitations are at Oakey’s South Chapel, Wednesday between 1 and 3 and between 5 and 7 pm. The service is Thursday at 2, immediately followed by a reception, both at Oakey’s South Chapel. A brief service will be held at Sherwood Memorial Park on Friday at 1:00 at the onsite Abbey.