William Kirby

WILLIAM KIRBY 1916 - 2008 DALTON William E. 'Spud' Kirby, 92, of 53 Sunnyside Drive, died peacefully at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center in Lenox. Born in Lenox, March 15, 1916, son of Robert P. and Mary Gorman Kirby.He was educated in Lenox Schools and was a 1934 graduate of Lenox High School. A World War II veteran, he enlisted in the United States Army on March 15, 1941, and served as a Sergeant with the Detachment Medical Department until his discharge on Dec. 2, 1945. Mr. Kirby was employed by General Electric Company, both in Pittsfield and in Rome, Ga. He retired as a Supervisor in 1978 with 38 years. He was a communicant of St. Agnes Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Dalton. He was a member of the General Electric Quarter Century and Pensioners Clubs, a member of the Dalton American Legion Post 155 and the Pittsfield Elks Lodge 272. For the past twenty years, he had been a member of the Dalton Art Guild where his greatest enjoyment was the more than 100 oil paintings he created over the years. He enjoyed carpentry and during the 1950s, built his own home in Lenox. He also enjoyed deer hunting. Mr. Kirby's wife, the former Martha Rosnagle, whom he married May 16, 1946, in London, Ohio, died May 21, 1997. He leaves three sons, Timothy F. Kirby, and his wife, Marguerite, of Dalton, Dr. Craig R. Kirby, and his wife, Patricia, of Lenox, and Christopher J. Kirby, and his wife, Kristen of Medway; five grandchildren, John of Norwood, Katherine of Lenox; Matthew of Lenox, and Brendan, of Medway, and Mellissa of Medway. He also leaves a nephew, Raymond F. Kirby, Jr., of Lenox, two-nieces, Mary MacCleod of Clinton, N.Y., and Ann Hinman, of Lenox. He was predeceased by four brothers, Raymond F. Kirby, Sr., Joseph Kirby, Robert Kirby, James Kirby, and a sister, Mary Murphy. FUNERAL NOTICE: Services for William E. 'Spud' Kirby will be held Monday, Aug. 15, at 9:l5 a.m., from DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at St. Agnes Church celebrated by Rev. Christopher A. Malatesta, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Ann's Cemetery in Lenox. Calling hours will be Sunday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Kirby may be made to Dalton Ambulance and Rescue, HospiceCare in The Berkshires, or to St. Agnes Church Development Fund, all in care of the Funeral Home, 890 East Main Street, Dalton.