Walter Vernon Kirkwood III

Walter Vernon Kirkwood III, born February 6, 1948 to Walter Vernon Kirkwood II and Phyllis Kirkwood, was a devoted father and grandfather, and a man whose life was shaped by service, family, and a good sense of humor.

Walt was a proud father to his three sons, Jeremy Kirkwood, John Kirkwood, and Tjan Lawrence, and an involved grandfather to his nine grandchildren. He made a point of showing up for their big events and taking them out for a good meal to catch up. He is survived by his longtime partner, Sue Smith.

Coming from a military family, Walter and his siblings, John and Bonnie, spent portions of their childhood living in different parts of the world before Walt ultimately made Colorado his home. He followed in his fathers footsteps of service by becoming a Captain in the United States Army and serving in Vietnam. His career later took him into private investigations, a field he worked in for many years and continued into retirement as a Special Investigator for Pinnacle.

Walt was known to his loved ones for his quick wit and humor. He had a way of keeping everyone laughing with him, and that never really left him—even in his final days. It’s one of the many things his family will remember and miss about him.

Outside of work and family, his favorite days were spent on a lake or a golf course. He loved to fish and practice his golf game, and some of his best memories were simply those spent outdoors. In his later days, you could often find him and Sue watching golf or cheering on the Broncos.

He leaves behind family and friends who loved him deeply, countless memories, and plenty of stories that will continue to make us laugh and smile for years to come.

We will celebrate Walt's life on Tuesday, September 15th. There will be a viewing from 11-1:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home in Aurora, followed by his burial service at Fort Logan at 2:00 p.m. Please reach out to John Kirkwood with any questions.