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<b>Fairhope, AL- George Frederick Kirchoff, Jr.</b> died July
29, 2020. He was born on August 26, 1932, to Regina Moreno and
George Frederick Kirchoff in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated
in 1955 from <b>Auburn University,</b> Auburn, Alabama, with
a degree in engineering physics, and joined the United States
Navy, earning his wings to serve as a Naval Aviator. He
married Gene Golson in 1956 and was deployed to the Far East
aboard the United States Aircraft Carrier USS Princeton and
left the Navy in 1959 as a lieutenant.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">George and his family
moved to Annandale, Virginia, and he began his rewarding
career in engineering and helped develop the ARCAS sounding
rocket and the Meteorological Rocket Network. From 1963-1972,
George was a Program Manager for Northrop Carolina Corporation
in Asheville, North Carolina, developing rockets for space
applications and numerous military flares and munitions.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">George joined <b>Thiokol
Corporation </b>in 1972 as a rocket engineer, and moved his
family to Brigham City, Utah. When Thiokol corporation merged
with Morton Norwich Inc. and the companies split in 1989,
George stayed with Morton, later named Morton International.
He and his team were responsible for developing the airbag for
automobiles, a monumental achievement.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">George served as Vice
President of Automotive Safety Programs and later as Managing
Director of Morton International Europe. He and Gene relocated
to Germany. In 1998, as Senior Vice President of Automotive
Programs, George retired from Morton International/Autoliv.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">George earned numerous
awards during his career. In 1978, he was the recipient of the
first Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration's "Safety Award for Engineering
Excellence" and won an award again in 1994. In 1991, George
was awarded the "H.H.Bliss Award" by Ralph Nader for
pioneering work in automotive air bags and occupant safety. In
1997, he received a "Pathfinder Award" from the Automotive
Occupant Restraints' Council which describes George as: "A
person who starts down a new path armed with nothing but his
own vision and integrity." In 1998, George became President of
the Automotive Occupant Restraints' Council (now known as the
Automotive Safety Council), serving in that position until his
retirement in 2008. <br>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">Recognizing George's
passion and achievements in engineering and safety, BMW
presented George the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2011: "In
recognition of your many years of tireless innovation on
automotive airbags to help save lives and reduce serious
injuries, anonymous to those you protected, but well known to
those of us who respect your pioneering accomplishments, your
lifetime of achievements are recognized and appreciated."<br>
George's passion extended to his family and church, Fairhope
United Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday school
teacher, a lay speaker, and a Stephen Minister. He was also an
active member of the Fairhope Rotary Club and SCORE. He was
loved and respected for his generosity of spirit and concern
for others. He led with a smile, and he and Gene, his partner
of sixty-three years, studied and learned together, and opened
their home and hearts to many friends.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">He leaves his beloved
wife, Gene, children, Eleanor Gene Nickelsberg (Barry), Daniel
Anderson Kirchoff (Jennifer), and Jon Frederick Kirchoff
(Amy), grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth Billian (Miles), Joshua
David Billian, Angela Kirchoff and Anders Kirchoff, and his
only sister, Margaret Kirchoff Pennington.</font></div>
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<div class="obituary-text"><font size="+1">A memorial service will
be held later. Memorials can be made to Fairhope United
Methodist Church, Caring Ministries, 155 South Section Street
Fairhope, Al 36532</font><br>
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<div class="obituary-publish-line"> <span>Published in The Salt
Lake Tribune on Aug. 11, 2020.</span></div>
<div class="obituary-publish-line"><span><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=george-frederick-kirchoff&pid=196616667">https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=george-frederick-kirchoff&pid=196616667</a><br>
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