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Submitted: 12/20/13 • Approved: 8/9/18 • Last Updated: 8/12/18 • R21253-G0-S3
FIREMAN FIRST CLASS US Navy
World War II
August 11, 1922 - May 31, 2010
Methodist Emblem
Clifton L Kirby, age 87, died early Monday, May 31, 2010 at his home in Ft Scott. He was born August 11, 1922 in Bushong, Kansas, the son of Irwin & Ora Lininger Kirby. The family then moved to Bucyrus, Kansas where he attended grade school and graduated from Bucyrus High School.
Clifton graduated from Fort Scott Junior College in 1942. He then enlisted and served in the Naval Air Force before transferring to the 7th fleet in the Pacific where he was assigned to the USS Banner A P A 60 until his discharge December 17, 1945. He married "Toppie" Kitchen on October 3, 1943. She preceded him in death on November 4, 1999.
Kirby worked as a Missouri Pacific switchman in the Ft Scott yard for a short while and then worked for the Western Insurance Company for 38 years and retired in 1983. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a life member of VFW Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post 1165 and a member of the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Elaine Kirby, and Carol Brown and husband, Danny, all of Ft Scott; 2 grandsons and 1 great-grandson, 1 niece and several nephews. Also surviving is long-time family friend, Crystal Mason.
In addition to his wife, Toppie, he was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Bonnie Jean Kirby.
Rev Paul Babcock conducted services Monday, June 7, at the First United Methodist Church in Ft Scott. Burial was in the National Cemetery. The family received friends at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home Sunday, June 6, 2010. Memorials were suggested to the First United Methodist Church or Hospice Compassus of Pittsburg, KS. Arrangements were made by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home
Contributed on 12/20/13 by evychristensen
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Record #: 21253