Robert E. Kirkwood

age 61, of New Castle DE, son of William J. Sr. and the late Cecilia (Smulewicz) Kirkwood passed away on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at home. 

Bob was born in Wilmington and graduated from McKean High School.  He attended two years at Delaware Technical Community College in Wilmington.  Bob then went on to serve 8 years in the Delaware National Guard based at the New Castle Airport.

As a young boy, Bob was in the Cub Scout (1962) and Boy Scout programs in Pack 919 and Troop 19 located in Wilmington, where he earned the rank of Life Scout.  He went on to work for Lance Inc. as a salesman and won salesmen of the year in 1976.  Later, he went to Utz Quality Foods, Inc. were he has worked for the past 30 years going from a sales representative, sales supervisor, district manager to spending the last 19 years as a Regional Sales Manager in South Jersey before transferring to the South Eastern Pennsylvania-Northern Delaware Region in 2002 as a Regional Sales Director. 

Bob was on the Parish Council and was a member of Christian Formation at his home Parish of St. Hedwig in Wilmington, Delaware.  He also served on the St. Hedwig Polish Festival committee for over ten years. 

He became involved as an adult in Scouting when his oldest son Robert Jr. joined Troop 285 (1992).  He served the Troop as a committee member and in 1999 became Committee Chairman and served for over thirteen years.  A year after Robert joined his Troop, his youngest son Craig joined Pack 285 at St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington where Bob served as Assistant Cub Master, Den Leader, Treasurer, and Committee Chairman for over ten years.   His proudest moments were seeing both of his sons become Eagle Scouts.

Long after his sons moved on, Bob stayed in the Scouting program with the Troop and Pack.  He later went on to help with Merit Badge College and help organize Webelos Woods and Cub-a-Rees for the Three Rivers District.  He went on to serve for three years as District Commissioner for the District and served another three years as the Program Chairman.  He received the District Award of Merit, the highest adult award bestowed by the District.  In 2008, he was honored at the Northeast Region Board Meeting as an outstanding member of the Wilmington Scouting community.  In 2009, for distinguished service to the youth in the community and Scouting, the Del-Mar-Va Council awarded Bob the Silver Beaver Award, the highest adult award bestowed by the Council.  In 2011, the Dioceses of Wilmington, Youth Ministry Office awarded him a National Youth Ministry Award for Volunteers called “Companions on the Journey”.

Bob was grateful to his wife Cathy for allowing him the time, her support, and her encouragement to stay in the Scouting program.  Bob’s greatest joy was seeing young boys go from a Cub Scout to Eagle Scout.  Bob witnessed over ten boys accomplished this achievement in his time in the Scouting program.  His ability to generously provide his time to mold young minds through scouting was greatly appreciated and to see them mature as good citizens was his greatest reward.

He is survived by his wife; Catherine Kirkwood, sons; Robert Kirkwood, Jr. of Newark, DE and Craig Kirkwood of New Castle, DE, his father; William Kirkwood Sr. of Wilmington, DE and his twin brother; Michael Kirkwood of Wilmington, DE. Bob was predeceased by his brother, William Kirkwood, Jr.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in St. Hedwig Church, Linden & S. Harrison Sts., Wilmington, DE, on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 11 am.  Visitation for Bob will be held on Thursday morning in church starting at 9 am. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery.

The family requests memorial contributions be sent to: Boy Scouts of America, National Council, PO Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015, www.scouting.org  or to St. Hedwig Church, 408 S. Harrison St., Wilmington, DE 19805.

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