William Edward "Ed" Kirk, 89, died Feb. 5, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Wichita. Born Oct. 6, 1922, at Kansas City, Kan., he was the son of William G. and Shirley M. (King) Kirk. He married Margaret A. Schweder on Aug. 22, 1949, in Kansas City, Kan. They were married 56 years, until her passing on Nov. 11, 2005. He retired in 1987 as general manager of Great Bend Commonwealth Theatres and was a former manager of theaters in Hoisington, Pratt, Liberal and Lawrence. In Missouri he managed theaters in Monett, Columbia, Sedalia, and Springfield. He was a former owner and operator of Leon's Drive-In in Pratt, the local teen hang-out and ice cream shop. He relocated to Great Bend from Pratt in 1972.

Mr. Kirk was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran, serving three and a half years during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific and American Theaters of Operation.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend Rotary Club for more than 50 years, sustaining member of the Rotary Foundation, American Legion Argonne Post 180 where he formerly was finance officer and member of the Executive Committee, American State Bank American Eagle Club Advisory Council, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Kansas, Legacy Society Member of the Golden Belt Community Foundation, and the Carl Aaron Swenson Heritage Society at Bethany College, Lindsborg and was a former member of United Motion Picture Association of Kansas and Missouri, former member of Miss Kansas Pageant Production Staff.

Survivors include three daughters, Jo Lynne Moore and husband Douglas of Prairie Village, Dana Sue Zessin of Omaha, Neb., and Sara Jo Oberle and husband Curtis of Kansas City, Kan.; and three grandsons, Andrew Moore, Charles Moore and Zachary Zessin. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dru Anne Kirk, in 1981.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Interment will be at Great Bend Cemetery, with military rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., Friday, at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

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