Thomas Kilpatrick

Thomas Wayne Kilpatrick, 76, passed away suddenly on September 3, 2022, at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. He was born on April 25, 1946, to Thomas E. and Hazel D. Kilpatrick of Hendersonville, NC. He was a loving and devoted husband, dad, and granddaddy. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Loretta Jones Kilpatrick; two daughters, Kristin Kilpatrick of Charlotte, NC, and Kara Kilpatrick Snyder, her husband Brandon Snyder, and their daughter Gracen Snyder, also of Charlotte, NC; brother, Greg, and his wife Angela, of Hendersonville, NC; step-sister, Christy Kilpatrick Adams of Waynesville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was a 1964 graduate of East Henderson High and earned a BS in Economics from UNCA and a post-graduate degree in Municipal Government from UNC Chapel Hill.  He was also a veteran of the US Navy, serving his country from 1964-68, earning an honorable discharge. It was in the Navy he realized his love of the sea. In his retirement years he obtained his Captain’s license to sail in open waters.

He began his career with the City of Hendersonville at the Wastewater Facility at Balfour where he earned the first North Carolina Annual Wastewater Operator of the Year Award. He was quickly promoted to Director of the Water & Sewer Department of Hendersonville where he retired in 1996 after 30 years of service. From there he started his own company, Tom Kilpatrick & Associates, operating multiple private wastewater plants and facilities including the Etowah Sewer Co.

He was an avid golfer throughout his life. His love for the game began at the age of 10 when he began caddying at Hendersonville Country Club. He was on the golf team at East High, as well as at UNCA. He was a member at Etowah Valley Golf & Resort for over 40 years.

No services are planned at this time but a gathering of friends and family will be held at a later date in the Hendersonville area. His wishes were to have his ashes spread at sea in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center or the Be the Match Foundation. Both of these organizations were instrumental in him receiving his Bone Marrow transplant in 2016 and Stem Cell transplant in 2018, made possible by his generous donor, which saved his life giving him 6 more years with his family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com, or mailed directly to the Kilpatrick family at 16519 Lakeside View Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28278