Leigh "Doug" Kirkland

Leigh Douglas Kirkland, 94, of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 21, 2025. Born in Dillsburg on June 7, 1931, he was the son of the late Leigh Harold Kirkland and Ruth (Risser) Kirkland. He was a 1949 graduate of Mechanicsburg High School.

   Many community members will remember Doug for his portrayal as Abraham Lincoln. For 28 years, he participated in the Mechanicsburg Memorial Day Parade as President Lincoln, riding in the procession and delivering the Gettysburg Address at Lincoln Cemetery. He also appeared frequently as Abe Lincoln in the Dillsburg Farmers Fair Fantastic Parade and in 2013, he had the honor of participating in events marking the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

   A hardworking man by nature, Doug retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company in York, but retirement never slowed him down. He sheared sheep and picked corn for local farmers, and he also ran a firewood business, cutting and delivering wood well into his nineties - a testament to his strength, resilience, and love of staying active and useful.

   Doug’s happy place was the outdoors, especially on his farm in Uno. Over the years, he raised sheep, grew strawberries, and tended produce that he proudly shared with neighbors, friends, and family. Doug was also an avid hunter who cherished time in his deer stand. He had a lifelong passion for travel, and some of his fondest memories were made exploring the beauty of the United States with his family, especially the National Parks and the wide-open landscapes of the American West.

   He was an enthusiastic sports fan, devoted to both Penn State football and the Philadelphia Phillies. College football Saturdays were sacred, and he followed Major League Baseball with equal loyalty. Doug's love of the game extended beyond the stands, as he coached many seasons of Little League baseball in Dillsburg. He also loved humor and had a playful spirit. Doug appreciated a good joke, a clever one-liner, and the simple joy of making others smile. He was a formidable Checkers player, and family and friends knew better than to challenge him, unless they were prepared to lose.

   Doug’s life was anchored by his Christian faith. He was a longtime member of Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill, where he formed lasting friendships and meaningful connections. Music was a joyful part of his life, and he spent years singing with the El Shaddai Singers.

   Doug was preceded in death by his beloved second wife, Pearl E. Miller-Kirkland, by his son, Randall Leigh Kirkland, and by three siblings: John Kirkland, Ruth Torsello, and Darlene Shaffer. He is survived by his children: Susan K. Kirkland (Joe Heary) of Basking Ridge, NJ; Stephen D. Kirkland of East Berlin, PA; Rex L. Kirkland (Joy) of Dillsburg; and Douglas E. Kirkland (Heather) of Dillsburg; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren. He is survived by his siblings, Genevieve Shaffer of Gettysburg, PA; Merle Kirkland of Monet, MO; and Jim Kirkland (Sandy) of Watford City, ND, and by his former wife and the mother of his children, Dolores Kirkland.

   Despite the miles that sometimes separated them, Doug shared a deep and enduring bond with his brothers and sisters - a connection marked by humor, admiration, and lifelong affection. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren, who brought him boundless joy. He will be remembered for his love of family, his resilience through life’s challenges, his humor, and his quiet strength.

   The family would like to thank the staff at Celebration Villa of Dillsburg for their ongoing care of Doug and to Sarah A. Todd Memorial Home for the comfort and care they provided in his final days.  

   A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11:00 am in the youth sanctuary of Christian Life Assembly, 2645 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, PA . Look for the Youth Center Entrance on the West Side Parking lot. A visitation will be held from 10:30-11:00 am at the church. He will be interred at Dillsburg Cemetery at a later time. 

   Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of Mechanicsburg, the organization that cares for the historic Lincoln Cemetery in Upper Allen Township, a place especially meaningful in Doug’s life. Donations may be sent to:  Vietnam Veterans of Mechanicsburg, 440 South York Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.