Oklahoma City Oilman, Philanthropist Kirkpatrick Dies

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma City oilman and philanthropist John Kirkpatrick has died at age 98.<br/><br/>Kirkpatrick died Tuesday night. The cause of death was not immediately available.<br/><br/>Kirkpatrick

Wednesday, October 4th 2006, 2:39 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma City oilman and philanthropist John Kirkpatrick has died at age 98.

Kirkpatrick died Tuesday night. The cause of death was not immediately available.

Kirkpatrick and his wife Eleanor gave more than $100-million to medicine, science and arts projects.

Eleanor Kirkpatrick died in 1997.

Kirkpatrick is responsible for the Kirkpatrick Planetarium and Omniplex and the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Building at Oklahoma City University.

He and his wife also played major roles in the development of Ballet Oklahoma, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Mercy Health Center, St. Anthony Hospital and the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Kirkpatrick was a Navy veteran of World War II where he was awarded two bronze stars.

He entered the oil business after the war and founded Kirkpatrick Oil Company in 1950.

He's survived by a daughter and a grandson.

Funeral services will be will be October 14th at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.