Stephen Daniel Kirkpatrick

The world lost a good man when Stephen Daniel Kirkpatrick peacefully passed from this life in the early morning hours of June 30, 2020.

Steve was the son of Robert Roy and Patricia Gerold Kirkpatrick, both of whom have preceded him in death. Steve was born October 23, 1956 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He was the youngest of three children, joining his older sister and brother in the family home in Livingston, New Jersey.  While Steve wasn’t born in Texas, he might as well have been!

The Kirkpatrick family relocated to the Galveston area in 1961, when Steve was five years old. He assimilated into Texas right down to the boots and burnt orange wardrobe. With the family settling in La Marque, Steve heard the call of the Gulf and became an avid, lifelong fisherman. He had many wonderful childhood memories of Galveston, spending many hours surfing and fishing there. His enjoyment of a day on the bay was such that his family describes the ocean as his first love. He graduated from La Marque High School in 1974, where he excelled at water polo, playing together with his brother Jim. He attended UT Austin for a time before returning to the Houston area.

On October 23rd 1979, he met the second love of his life, Debbie Carter, on a blind date on his birthday. He always said she was his best birthday present. They met in October, got engaged in December and married in April. Being the romantic that he was, he proposed to her in the drive-through lane at a Jack in the Box on Westheimer. How could she refuse? They married on April 26th 1980, built a life to be proud of, and were blessed with two sons. Steve and Debbie always lived in the Houston area and spent the last 30 years of their life together enjoying their home in Highlands, TX.

Steve’s first and favorite job was as a lifeguard at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, but he made his career in the electrical industry. He built a stellar reputation for himself as a Projects Quotation Manager, working with different distributors through the years until being invited to become one of the founding owners of Crawford Electric, where he was described as “a well-respected Quotations guru at Crawford. He was a kind and compassionate man, with a sharp sense of sarcastic wit!”  

Steve enjoyed traveling with family and friends. He did a fair amount of globetrotting with his wife, sons, and sister Joan, but time in Galveston was always his favorite way to pass the hours with those he loved. Steve enjoyed attending Texas Longhorn football games and was a season ticket holder for many years, attending their 2009 National Championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

Steve was a member of Crossroads Fellowship Church. He was dedicated to the children’s relief ministry and sponsored multiple children over the course of the last 20 years. Steve was a loyal and loving husband, father, brother and friend. His time as a grandfather was much shorter than he would have chosen, but was enjoyed in every moment. He was gifted with a generous spirit and helped a great many people who were in need. He was quick witted, charming, and known for his mischievous smile and chuckle.

Steve is survived by his wife of 40 years, Debbie; son, Brian Carter Kirkpatrick and his fiancée, Emily; son, Matthew Brady Kirkpatrick, his wife, Brittany, and their sons, Ethan and Jameson. He also leaves his sister, Joan Barrett; brother, Jim Kirkpatrick, and his wife, Anne; and a niece and nephew who provided Steve with lots of great-nieces. Steve is also survived by loving in-laws and a host of long-time friends. In keeping with Steve’s choices during life, his soul is with the Father in Heaven, and his earthly remains will become part of a reef being created in Galveston Bay.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 8^th at Crossroads Fellowship at 11am. 

          Crossroads Fellowship

          12110 East Sam Houston Pkwy N

          Houston, TX  77044

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to One Child Matters in honor of Steve.  This is the relief ministry Steve has donated to for over 20 years. 

Link below:

          https://my.onechild.org/donate/StephenKirkpatrick