Joseph T. Kirkland

Joseph Terry Kirkland
Of Dale City, Virginia died on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Terry is survived by his loving wife of nearly 36 years, LaDona Kirkland, their daughter Cynthia Kirkland, his sister Tina Nichols, and two brothers, Keith Kirkland and Howard Kirkland. Terry is preceded in death by his mother, Carol Beaird, and his father, Fred Kirkland.
Terry served in the US Army for 14 years (1983-1997), to include assignments in Texas, Germany, the District of Columbia, Korea, and Georgia. His assignment to the White House brought him to Northern Virginia. He married LaDona in 1989, and they moved to Dale City, Virginia that same year.
Upon his departure from the US Army, Terry worked for GTE and General Dynamics at Fort Gordon, Georgia where he was an instructor of telephone communications.
Terry worked for Prince William County Public Schools, Dale City Elementary and BelAir Elementary. He moved to Hylton Senior High School where he worked as a Technical Specialist until his retirement in June 2024. Terry was a Junior Varsity and Varsity softball coach at Hylton High School. He was also the Bowling Coach at Hylton High School for the past two years.
Here is a short addition for Terry that his daughter, Cynthia, would like to share. She always tells people how kind he was with this story:
Dad was always humble and selfless. He didn't just want to watch sports on TV; he wanted to be everyone's coach whether softball, bowling, soccer, etc. Inspiring students to have fun and strive in sports was what he loved most.
His Ford trucks over the years were always packed with sports equipment, and he always talked about tending to the softball fields late at night.
Even when I wasn't playing sports and focused on art, he helped buy art supplies and wanted to make sure that I always felt supported even if he didn't understand what crazy thing I was making. When I was in elementary school, dad won the award from the parent association for "Mom of the Year." It's funny, but that always makes me think of how involved he was in everyone's success when I was a kid and then later on to everyone else's children over the years. He didn't ask for much, but I just always hope he knows all the people who appreciated him.
Here is a short addition for Terry from Tiffany Lewis, Cynthia's best friend:
Mr. Kirkland will always exist in my mind as a kind, supportive father. When Cynthia and I came up with a plan to drive to Baltimore for our first convention, he joined, along with my mom, and weathered weirdness, big crowds, and the dealer's hall on behalf of making his daughter (and her friend) happy. I watched as he continued to be supportive and show up time and again for Cynthia as we both grew. Ever the comedian, he was always at the ready with a dad joke or friendly jest, but most importantly that comedy made space for him to relate and listen to you. He will sincerely be missed but forever loved and remembered.
Friends and family will be celebrating Terry's life with a viewing on Monday, March 10, 2025 from 2-4 & 6-9 at Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home and Crematory, 4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City, VA 22193 where services will be held Tuesday at 12:00. Internment with military honors will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.