Dorothy Bird Killpack, age 94, passed away quietly on January 23, 2016, surrounded by her family. The second of three children of Dr. Myron Evan and Romania Westenskow Bird, Dorothy was born March 2, 1921 in Salt Lake City. After years of medical training in Utah and Illinois, the Bird's settled in Delta, Utah in 1929. Dorothy would call Delta home for the remainder of her life, leaving only for brief periods of school, work and missionary service.
Dorothy graduated from Delta High School in 1939 and pursued further education at Brigham Young University and the LDS Hospital School of Nursing. Degree in hand, Dorothy returned to Delta to assist her father in the care of the citizens of west Millard County as well as those occupants of the Topaz Relocation Camp during World War II.
After the war, Dorothy married Ward William Killpack of Delta on April 10, 1946. The couple moved to Salt Lake in order for Ward to continue his education, Dorothy continuing her nursing career working at LDS Hospital. After Ward's graduation from the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, the family returned to Delta where they added to their posterity and established themselves within the community. Dorothy went on to serve for decades in the field of nursing in West Millard, taking great joy in bringing health to the ill and afflicted, aid to the injured, and comfort to young mothers. She spent many years on-call for emergencies, surgeries and obstetrics and assisted in the delivery of thousands of babies.
In addition to her professional career, Dorothy was active in the LDS Church, with a firm conviction of Jesus Christ. She served in the various auxiliaries of the Church; her service and example has had a lasting impact on many individuals. From 1990 to 1991, Ward and Dorothy had the opportunity to serve a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois; they also worked for many years in the Manti Temple. Many life-long friends were gained from mission and temple service.
Throughout her life, Dorothy was also involved in numerous civic and community organizations. She served in the local PTA, in the leadership of the county Democratic Party, and as a founding member of the Great Basin Museum Board. She helped organize numerous local blood drives and sang in the Blue Notes choral group. She led a life of service and was recognized, with her husband, as Area Giants by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce in 1992.
Dorothy had many interests that shaped her life and that of her family. She loved to watch a good ball game, especially if her beloved BYU Cougars were playing. She passionately supported the various activities of her children and grandchildren, traveling far and near to attend football games, dance competitions, rodeos, volleyball games and any other interest expressed by her posterity. She was a staunch Democrat and enjoyed lively political discussion. She loved a good book, a challenging jigsaw puzzle, chocolate, good music, the daily newspaper, traveling, and an intense card game. Her efforts in the field of genealogy and family history work brought her great satisfaction. Her favorite place on earth was the family cabin at Fish Lake, Utah.
She is survived by her children Karen (Dale) Roper of Delta; Ann (Paul) Tinker of Salt Lake City; Raymond (Connie) Killpack of Denver, Colo.; Robert Killpack of Lewes, Delaware; and Roger (Bobbie) Killpack of Delta; 23 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; brother: Don (Joan) Bird of Delta; and sister-in-law: Evelyn Howarth of Delta. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ward Killpack; son, Richard; grandson, Gerald Scott Roper; great-grandson, Grant Owen Hawksworth; and brother, Evan Bird.
Services will be held Saturday, January 30, at 11:00 a.m., at the Delta Fourth Ward LDS Chapel, 197 S. 300 W. Friends may call at the chapel, 9:00-10:40 a.m., prior to service. Interment will be in the Delta City Cemetery.
The family would like to express its gratitude to Dr. Steven Shamo for years of compassionate service and the staff of Millard Care and Rehabilitation for the exemplary care they provided. The family requests in lieu of flowers to consider donations to the Great Basin Museum in Delta or the missionary fund of the LDS Church.