Mrs. Kirkpatrick studied for a time at the Juilliard School in [[New York City]] and much later obtained a [[Master of Arts]] degree in [[music]] from [LSU in Baton Rouge. At times, she taught voice music at both LSU and McNeese State University in Lake Charles. At the invitation of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], she served from 1977 to 1989 on the Louisiana Board of Regents, a panel created by the state constitution of 1974 to govern public higher education institutions.<ref name=statement/>
During the 1963 gubernatorial campaign, Mrs. Kirkpatrick published a 38-page song book entitled ''Louisiana Let's Sing,'' a collection of favorite songs ranging from ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'' to ''[[Jingle Bells]]'' compiled especially for her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antiqbook.com/boox/gaq/028504.shtml|title=''Louisiana Let's Sing''|publisher=antiqbook.com|date=1963|accessdate=Unavailable}}</ref>
Kirkpatrick died in the Baton Rouge General Hospital that he had once managed, having earlier underwent five [[heart]] bypasses. He is interred at Green Oaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge. In addition to his wife and three living children, Kirkpatrick was survived by a brother, G. Truett Kirkpatrick (1921–2007) of Lake Charles, and five grandchildren. Another brother, Augustus C. Kirkpatrick (1914–1996)<ref name=ssdi/> of Lake Charles was the former tax assessor of Calcasieu Parish. After Kirkpatrick's death, Mrs. Kirkpatrick deposited her husband's papers on request at McNeese State University.