Donald Kirkland, businessman and devoted outdoorsman

Donald H. Kirkland, 90, of Devon, a businessman and outdoorsman who hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, died Friday, Sept. 30, of a heart ailment at home.

Born in Kirklyn, a neighborhood in Upper Darby, Mr. Kirkland was the son of Ida Kathryn and William Kirkland.

He graduated from Friends' Central School and then enlisted in the Navy.

Mr. Kirkland was deployed to the Pacific, where he served on the destroyer Mertz during World War II. He was honorably discharged in April 1946 with the rank of machinist mate second class.

After his military service, Mr. Kirkland joined the family business, Marine Equipment & Supply Co., and served as owner and CEO for 65 years. During part of his tenure, the firm was located at Second and Walnut Streets.

In the 1950s, the building that housed the company burned to the ground. No one was injured, but the family decided to move the business, a wholesaler of parts for the pleasure boat industry, to Thorofare, Gloucester County.

Mr. Kirkland never retired. "He kept coming in for part of a day. The day before he died, he had lunch with his two grandsons," said son Donald Jr.

Apart from his vocation, Mr. Kirkland was best known for his love of the outdoors. He had a lifelong interest in hiking, completing the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahdin, Maine.

"He did it over six years, taking two weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall. He worked out all the logistics because you can't carry food for two weeks on your back. He had food drop-offs. He figured out where he had left off [hiking]. It was quite a project," his son said.

Mr. Kirkland climbed 5,269-foot Mount Katahdin, 14,410-foot Mount Rainier in Washington state, 14,259-foot Longs Peak in Colorado, and others.

He also was known for his woodworking projects, many of which he placed in his home and those of family members and friends. He made tables, desks, shelves, and clock cases.

He enjoyed boating, reading, gardening, tennis, and arguing over politics.

He served as president of the National Marine Distributors Association and volunteered for the Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy. He was a member of Berwyn United Methodist Church, where he volunteered as board chairman, usher, and finance committee member.

He was a welcome handyman. "He fixed things in his neighborhood for people half his age. He helped lots and lots of people out," his son said.

He was married to Elizabeth Stillman Kirkland for 65 years.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by two grandsons and two nieces. Another son, David R., died earlier.

A visitation at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, will be followed by a 4 p.m. memorial service at the Berwyn United Methodist Church, 140 Waterloo Ave., Berwyn, Pa. 19312. Burial is private.

Contributions may be made to the Horse-Shoe Trail Conservancy, Box 2226, Southeastern, Pa. 19399; Main Line Animal Rescue, Box 89, Chester Springs, Pa. 19425; or the church at the address above.

bcook@phillynews.com

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