Lt. Col. (Ret) William G Newkirk, Sr., age 91 of Pisgah Forest North Carolina, died November 1, 2013 surrounded by his family at his home in the North Carolina Mountains. He was born February 2, 1922. He is survived by three children, Carole Thifault, William Newkirk Jr., and David Newkirk. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. During his tenure in the U.S. Army he served in WW II and the Korean War. Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, his distinguished military career included the office of Public Relations Officer for the Military District of Washington D.C. under President Johnson. Some of his accomplishments included arranging all military aspects of the funeral for General Douglas MacArthur as well as arranging all military aspects of Russian Secretary Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the United States. He also was one of the first American officers to be allowed to visit Soviet Russia. Once he retired from the military, he served as deputy chief administrator of public relations at the Social Security Administration, Washington DC. In 1978 both William and his wife, Marjorie, retired from civilian life and shortly thereafter, purchased a small Christian bookstore in the town of Indialantic, Florida. This retirement "hobby" lasted 17 years and turned into one of the biggest Christian bookstores on the Florida east coast. They then moved to the North Carolina Mountains where they both lived out the rest of their lives surrounded by their family and God's majestic beauty. The funeral service will be held at 3 PM Friday, November 8, 2013 at Pisgah Forest Baptist Church with Rev. David Spray officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors World Vision International, or Coalition to Salute America's Heros at saluteheroes.org. On line condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.