YOURNEWS | AURORA | Willard Kirk turns 100 on Sept. 26. He has been a resident of Aurora since 1953.
He was born September 26th 1913 in Longmont. His mother, Otia, father, George, sister Elsie, brother Robert and Willard the youngest.
Not long after Willard was born the family moved to Lyons, where they had lots of land to farm on. They grew the biggest red apples where people would travel to come buy. Mother made homemade butter. Willard was a full-time student, graduated and then moved on to do a little college. Willard was 16 when the Depression hit as he worked on the family farm. By the time he was 20 he had to move away for better pay. He moved to Peace Valley where he worked for the government with the road construction building bridges and dams. Very hard labor not having the tools we have now. After about 5 years he moved to Canyon City, where he had a little farm for about 2 to 3 years. Willard then married but not long after she passed. Willard had moved to Aurora on Galena St. where he had met Gladys, what a blessing she was. She was a single mother of two boys. Willard and Gladys had enjoyed each others company so much. When Willard asked Gladys on the first date fishing she said yes.
They liked to go to 11 Mile Reservoir. Not long after, they married in 1953 at 40. Willard got a job at Lowry Air Force Base where he worked with sheet metal on airplanes, bombs, and mock-ups. This is where he retired.
Willard loves music, he was an excellent singer and guitar player. He loved to make quilts with Gladys, he painted the patterns and Gladys would sew the blocks together. He has always loved fishing, airplanes, and his passion was to be in his garden. He has also enjoyed relaxing watching the birds out the back window. What a hard working man he was. Gladys was also fortunate to live to be 100. She passed away two weeks after she turned 100. She has been gone from us now for two and a half years. What a wonderful life they have lived! So let us celebrate Willard (Gramps) on this very special day!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WE LOVE YOU!