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K. D. Kilpatrick recalls that the stroke "left my father an invalid, although he was to live for ten more years. [Because of] his paralysis, I was forced to become a man overnight. It was during [[World War II]], and there were no adult men to help us. So, as a teenager, I joined my mother in rearing my sister and brother and in keeping our business together."<ref name=history/>​

K. D. Kilpatrick recalls that the stroke "left my father an invalid, although he was to live for ten more years. [Because of] his paralysis, I was forced to become a man overnight. It was during [[World War II]], and there were no adult men to help us. So, as a teenager, I joined my mother in rearing my sister and brother and in keeping our business together."<ref name=history/>​

==Leader in the funeral industry==

==Career==

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Kilpatrick graduated from Farmerville High School and attended [[Louisiana Tech University]] in Ruston. He graduated from the Landig College of Mortuary Science in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. He was the co-owner of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, Inc., Central American Life Insurance Company, Inc., and Ashley Life Insurance Company, Inc., prior to his retirement in 2001.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=kenneth-dale-kilpatrick-kd&pid=140759008|title=Kenneth Dale (K.D.) Kilpatrick|publisher=''The Shreveport Times,'' March 16, 2010|accessdate=March 19, 2010}}</ref>  The four Kilpatrick funeral homes, in Farmerville, [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], West Monroe, and Ruston, are now operated by Tex Kilpatrick of Monroe, who holds a degree in [[chemistry]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and turned down a medical career to join his brother in the management of the funeral home. The Kilpatricks acquired the West Monroe outlet in the 1950s and the Monroe facility in 1977.<ref name=history/>​

Kilpatrick graduated from Farmerville High School and attended [[Louisiana Tech University]] in Ruston. He graduated from the Landig College of Mortuary Science in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. He was the co-owner of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, Inc., Central American Life Insurance Company, Inc., and Ashley Life Insurance Company, Inc., prior to his retirement in 2001.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=kenneth-dale-kilpatrick-kd&pid=140759008|title=Kenneth Dale (K.D.) Kilpatrick|publisher=''The Shreveport Times,'' March 16, 2010|accessdate=March 19, 2010}}</ref>  The four Kilpatrick funeral homes, in Farmerville, [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], West Monroe, and Ruston, are now operated by Tex Kilpatrick of Monroe, who holds a degree in [[chemistry]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and turned down a medical career to join his brother in the management of the funeral home. The Kilpatricks acquired the West Monroe outlet in the 1950s and the Monroe facility in 1977.<ref name=history/>​

Kilpatrick was elected to the state Senate in 1972, to succeed fellow Democrat Charles Clem Barham (1934-2010), an [[attorney]] in Ruston and a son of former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Charles Emmett "Cap" Barham (1904-1972). Charles Barham reclaimed the seat in 1976, having won a heated runoff election against fellow Democrat Louise Brazell Johnson (1924-2002), a businesswoman from Bernice.<ref name=senate/> Charles Barham died in [[Shreveport]] less than two months after the passing of Kilpatrick.​

Kilpatrick was elected to the state Senate in 1972, to succeed fellow Democrat Charles Clem Barham (1934-2010), an [[attorney]] in Ruston and a son of former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Charles Emmett "Cap" Barham (1904-1972). Charles Barham reclaimed the seat in 1976, having won a heated runoff election against fellow Democrat Louise Brazell Johnson (1924-2002), a businesswoman from Bernice.<ref name=senate/> Charles Barham died in [[Shreveport]] less than two months after the passing of Kilpatrick.​

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==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==

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