James Albert Kilpatrick

James Albert Kilpatrick, 87, of Seven Lakes, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at his residence in Seven Lakes.
Jim was born on August 8, 1925, in New Carlisle, Ohio, and grew up in Tipp City, Ohio, where his father was a veterinarian. Jim had a younger brother, John, who is now deceased. After graduation from high school, where he was class president, Jim joined the U.S. Navy and served for 3 1/2 years. He then started college at Ohio State where he met his wife, Ellie, and they were married for 65 years.
Jim has three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His daughter, Gail Lee, and her husband, Chris Whitis, are the parents of two children and three grandchildren. Jim’s son, Andy, and his wife, Mary, have two daughters. His daughter, Leslie, and her husband, Andre Van Ekeris, have a daughter and a son.
In Ohio, Jim was a successful businessman, the owner and operator of Kilpatrick Heating and Cooling for 30 years. Jim was a member of the Tipp City Rotary Club with a perfect attendance record. He served also as their president for several years.
Jim also served his community as a board member of the Monroe Federal Savings and Loan. He was a Boy Scout in his youth and became a leader when he saw a need in his hometown. One of his favorite things was when he helped the Scouts take canoe trips down the nearby Great Miami River, teaching the boys the correct way to handle a canoe.
Jim and Ellie retired to Seven Lakes in 1989, and he became quite active in Habitat for Humanity, building houses for people who needed a “hand up” not a “hand out”.
In 2009, Jim was honored by Habitat and Moore County as the “Volunteer of the Year”, for 18 years of faithful service. Jim was a starter-ranger for many years at Pinewild Country Club Golf Course.
Staying busy and involved was very important to Jim. He worked with his partner, Larry Auckland, on the second major expansions of the Chapel in 1997, when the little Chapel in the Pines went from seating 80 to seating 275.
Jim was a loving family man with a cheerful outlook on life, a very honest, easy going and likeable man. Many of you knew him as “the Tin Man,” a nickname he acquired while working for Habitat installing the metal work under the eaves on the houses.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at the Chapel in the Pines in Seven Lakes with the Rev. Don Welch and the Rev. Fran Stark officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of James Kilpatrick to the Chapel in the Pines at 2125 Seven Lakes South, Seven Lakes, NC 27376 or the Habitat For Humanity of N.C. Sandhills at 2268 NC 5 Highway, Aberdeen, NC 28315
On line condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes is serving the family.