Edward Preuit Kirven
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 24, 2007
MARRIETTA, Ga. &8212; Edward Preuit Kirven, 65, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 in Marietta, Ga. Funeral services for Kirven are set for 2 p.m. today at the Cowan Fellowship Church. A memorial service for the University and Sewanee community is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2 with interment at the University Cemetery. Moore Cortner Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. Kirven was born in Montgomery, on May 3, 1946, and grew up in Linden.
A graduate of The University of the South, Dr. Kirven undertook his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, Minn., and post-doctoral studies at the University of Texas, Arlington. He taught for two years at Emory University in Atlanta, and served as a teaching assistant and professor at the University of Minnesota before beginning his 30-year tenure at the University of the South.
While at the University of the South, Dr. Kirven served as chairman of the chemistry department, and was selected &8220;Teacher of the Year,&8221; in 2003. He was highly esteemed at the University as a dedicated teacher who spent considerable time attending to the individual needs of his students.
Dr. Kirven was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Association for the Advancement of American Science. He was also a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon honorary society. In addition to serving as chemistry department chair at Sewanee, he also served as longtime chair of the premed committee, as chair of the committee on committees and as member of the honorary degrees committee of the University.
Locally, Dr. Kirven worked with the Boy Scouts of America. He was active at Cowan Fellowship Church as treasurer and served on its governing board. In Sewanee, he served the volunteer fire department as an ambulance driver. He was also noted in the wider community as an avid gardener.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Garland Adams Kirven and Ellen Preuit Kirven of Linden. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Henry Kirven; and son Gregg Henry Kirven of Sewanee, Tenn.; and son Edward Preuit Kirven, Jr. of Alexandria, Va. He is also survived by his sister, Ellen Kirven Donald and her husband Tony of Alexandria, Va.; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews from throughout the region.
Memorials in Dr. Kirven&8217;s memory may be made to the University of the South&8217;s Heifer Project, c/o Dixon Meyers at 735 University Ave. Sewanee, Tenn. 37383 or to the charity of your choice.