He was born May 4, 1918, in Fieldon to Harry L. and Dora (Beatty) Kirby.
He married the former Opal I. Brooks-Hughes on June 27, 1972, in Moro. She died Oct. 17, 2006.
A U.S. Army World War II veteran, he retired in 1982 after 34 years of service at Shell Oil. He was a hobby horse trainer. He judged and showed horses all over the country. In 1983, on the Florida coast, he owned Teddy Image, which was one of the high pleasure geldings in the nation. He also owned Sonny Citation, a stallion which placed seventh out of 78 qualifiers in Oklahoma City and was world champion in 1980. He was a member of the Elks Lodge 954 and Eagles Lodge 2747, both in Jerseyville.
Surviving are three stepgrandchildren and two spouses, Rona and Mark Rassi of Fort Myers, Fla., Linda Vaughn of Fort Myers and Robert and Karen Hughes of Pekin, Ill.; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and a stepson and his wife, Hubert and Wilma Hughes.
Visitation will be from noon until services at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Alexander and Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. The Rev. Rick Church will officiate.
Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, with military services by Jerseyville American Legion Post 492.
He was born May 4, 1918, in Fieldon to Harry L. and Dora (Beatty) Kirby.
He married the former Opal I. Brooks-Hughes on June 27, 1972, in Moro. She died Oct. 17, 2006.
A U.S. Army World War II veteran, he retired in 1982 after 34 years of service at Shell Oil. He was a hobby horse trainer. He judged and showed horses all over the country. In 1983, on the Florida coast, he owned Teddy Image, which was one of the high pleasure geldings in the nation. He also owned Sonny Citation, a stallion which placed seventh out of 78 qualifiers in Oklahoma City and was world champion in 1980. He was a member of the Elks Lodge 954 and Eagles Lodge 2747, both in Jerseyville.
Surviving are three stepgrandchildren and two spouses, Rona and Mark Rassi of Fort Myers, Fla., Linda Vaughn of Fort Myers and Robert and Karen Hughes of Pekin, Ill.; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and a stepson and his wife, Hubert and Wilma Hughes.
Visitation will be from noon until services at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Alexander and Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. The Rev. Rick Church will officiate.
Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, with military services by Jerseyville American Legion Post 492.
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