April 12, 2015 – Friends say there will be a “Celebration of Life” to mark the passing of Robert Kirkland. Kirkland, one of the founders of Kirkland’s home decor stores died at his Union City home on Saturday morning after a year-long battle with health issues.
According to his bio, Kirkland was born Feb. 19, 1938, and moved to Union City with his parents, the late Hayden and Sadie Kirkland, when he was a year old. His parents owned and operated the local Ben Franklin 5 and 10 cent store from the 1940’s into the 1970’s.
A 1956 graduate of Union City High School, he was a member of the football, basketball and track teams. He was president of his senior class and went on from there to graduate from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1960.
Following graduation, he worked for the University of Tennessee Alumni Association for a time and then, he opened a Ben Franklin store in Nashville in the early 1960’s and by 1968 had also become involved in the Nashville Shop of John Simmons, along with other business ventures there.
In 1971 Robert, along with his wife Jenny, returned to Obion County.  Kirkland along with his cousin, Carl Kirkland opened a chain of businesses known as Kirklands Gift Stores in Jackson, Nashville and Knoxville. These eventually expanded to include more than 250 stores in the eastern U.S.
The 77 year-old Robert Kirkland, and his wife Jenny, were known for their philanthropy and in 2014 they received the Tigrett Award for their work with charities.
The couple created the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. They also founded the Promethean Foundation to provide at-risk children with daycare services .
One of Kirkland’s last act’s of philanthropy was founding the Discovery Park of America in Union City. Kirkland’s donated $100 million to get the
According to those close to the family, Kirkland’s death on Saturday morning did not come as a shock. Before his passing Robert Kirkland made all the plans for his memorial.
The celebration of life will be held at the Discovery Park of America at 2 p.m. Wednesday. A visitation service will be held from 10 a.m. until the service begins at 2 p.m.
Donations can be made to the Discovery Park of America Education Department for a scholarship program to help under-served children attend who otherwise would not be able afford to visit the park . The service is open to the public.
