SOUTHBURY – Willard Kirkpatrick Denton Jr., 76, of Southbury, died peacefully at home on March 17, 2024. He was the husband of Mary Anne (Fogle) Denton.
Kirk was born on Aug. 27, 1947, in New York City, son of the late Willard K. Denton and Faith (deBaubigny) Denton. He attended Hackley School, Fox Lane High School, and Pace College in Pleasantville, N.Y.
Kirk began his law enforcement career with the Westchester County Sheriff’s Department, transferring to the Peekskill, N.Y., police department, where he was a founding member of their K-9 division. He later transferred to the Beacon, N.Y., police department where he set up their K-9 unit. He was later a founding member of the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.
Kirk is survived by his son Willard K. Denton III (Rick) and his wife Kristi, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., and his son Brian H. Denton and his wife Kathy, of Poughquag, N.Y. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Zachary, Nicholas, Madison, Sadie, and Matthew.
Kirk loved tinkering with his classic cars and adding to his collection of auto memorabilia, hit and miss engines, Halloween, and ’50s collectibles.
A celebration of his life will be on April 6, 2024, at 1 p.m. at The United Church of Christ, 283 Main St. North, Southbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Kirk’s name may be made to Tunnel to Towers (t2t.org).
The Carpino Funeral Home of Southbury has had the honor of handling Kirk’s arrangements. For directions, or to leave a message of remembrance, please visit carpinocares.com.
