Helen Irene Kirkpatrick

Helen Irene Kirkpatrick, 94 years old, of Hagerstown, Maryland, passed from this life peacefully on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the Residences of Creekside in Hagerstown. She was the beloved wife of the late Gerald “Jerry” L. Kirkpatrick. They were married on December 29, 1951, at The First Methodist Church in Hyattsville, Maryland. They were happily married for 69 years until Jerry’s death on December 31, 2020.

Born on November 23, 1931, in Chillicothe, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Glen T. and Alice S. Nutter.

She was a graduate of Hyattsville High School. She worked as a switchboard operator for the C&P phone company directly out of high school and then became a stay-at-home mom to her three wonderful children. She loved to sew (including the bridesmaids dresses for her daughter’s wedding) and bake, and always made sure there were cookies in the house. She also taught all of us how to cook, but her passion was painting. She painted everything from saws, to milk containers, to washboards, to framed landscapes. She especially loved to paint farms. She was a creative person in every way, and we all are blessed to have her artwork as a reminder of her.

She is survived by her daughter, Beth Ward (Dan); and her sons, Jeff Kirkpatrick (Carol) and Tod Kirkpatrick (Julie). She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Joseph Ward (Laura), Jason Kirkpatrick (Kara), Scott Kirkpatrick, Colleen Ward (Bryan Broomall), Lauren Burroughs (James), and Heather Kirkpatrick (Kathryn Hemphill); and her beloved 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Kathleen D. Wright.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, at Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home, 7606 Old National Pike in Boonsboro.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home in Boonsboro. Pastor Errol Thompson will officiate. Burial will follow at the Boonsboro Cemetery.

The funeral home website may be used if your wish is to send the family flowers or monetary donations may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 1710 Underpass Way, Suite 300, Hagerstown, MD 21740 or to the Residences at Creekside, 19800 Tranquility Circle, Hagerstown, MD 21740.