Obituary: John E. Kirkpatrick, Oklahoma City Philanthropist
October 9, 2006
John Elson Kirkpatrick, founder of both the Kirkpatrick Oil Company and Oklahoma City Community Foundation, died in his sleep October 3, reports The Oklahoman. He was 98.
Mr. Kirkpatrick, known as “the Admiral” from his Navy service in World War II, and his wife, Eleanor, who died in 1997, gave more than $100-million to support the arts, medicine, and science in Oklahoma City, his hometown.
Their philanthropy established the Omniplex and Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. He received a medal from the American Association of Museums in 1995 for outstanding philanthropy.
