Jean E. Kirkland

Jean Elmo Kirkland July 25, 1920 December 15, 2008 Jean Elmo Kirkland, 88, of Waco, TX, and a long-time resident of Harlingen, TX, passed away Monday, December 15, 2008, in Waco. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 20, at Mont Meta Memorial Park Cemetery, 26170 State Hwy 345, Harlingen, TX. Jean was born July 25, 1920, in Atlanta, GA. He grew up in Georgia and received his degree in General Engineering Aeronautic Option from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. While at Georgia Tech, Jean belonged to the Naval ROTC. In 1942, he was commissioned as an Ensign and served on the submarine USS Barracuda. In 1943, he reported for flight training beginning at Texas Christian University and going on to Dallas Naval Air Station and then to New Orleans Naval Air Station. He was a primary flight instructor and trained Free French students. He was then ordered to Memphis Naval Air Station as an experimental test pilot and engineer. Jean married Annabelle Davis of Dawson, TX, in 1943. They had three children, Jean Elmo III Jay, Ann and James. Jean had many business experiences, including working as a Hudson dealer in partnership with his father, partnering with his father-in-law and brothers-in-law at the Farmers Gin Co. of Abbot, TX, and running the Texas Gin Co. in Santa Rosa, TX, which was later renamed Davis-Kirkland Gin Co. He also farmed in the Santa Rosa-La Feria area from 1960-1992. Jean was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Rosa and of Harlingen, serving in executive positions such as Lt. Gov. Division II, president and director. He also served on the board of directors of the Texas Cotton Ginners Association, the Texas Independent Ginners Association and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Ginners Association. Jean was preceded in death by his parents, Jean Elmo and Marie; and his son, Jay. He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Annabelle; daughter, Ann Jarboe and husband, Wally, of Dallas, TX; son, Jimmy and wife, Jean, of Woodland Hills, CA; grandsons, Michael Shane Kirkland of Atlanta, GA, and Davis Kirkland of Woodland Hills, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sunny Glen Children's Home, Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1373, San Benito TX 78586-1373. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.