MARY RUTH KIRBY

1923 - 2011

Mary Ruth Logue Kirby

SEAFORD ? Mary Ruth Logue Kirby, 88, of Seaford died Monday, March 1, 2011, in Life Care at Lofland Park Seaford.

She was born Feb. 20, 1923, in Baltimore, the daughter of the late Mabel Abarilla Owings and William Richard Logue. She grew up in Pimilico and attended Arlington Presbyterian Church, Camp Fire Girls and Forest Park High School. While she worked for Butler Department Store she attended and graduated from the Baltimore School of the Bible. During World War II, she worked for the B&O Railroad scheduling and tracking railcars, giving military supplies precedence. After she married Robert Harrison Kirby, she moved to Seaford, where she joined St. John's United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school, Bible school and Junior Church, and was a member of the Women's Society. She was the first den mother of Pack 249. As a member of the Seaford Acorn Club Federation of Women, she typed the first draft of the Seaford telephone book.

She worked for more than 20 years for Hurley Chrysler Plymouth, George Marshalls and Dick's Auto Body. At night she was bookkeeper for Stewart's Custodian Service and Diamond State Transmission Service. She mimeographed newsletters and bulletins and manuscripts for many Seaford churches organizations.

She was a member of Carroll County and Maryland Historical Society and did genealogy research of the Gists and Owings families. She followed the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens and NASCAR drivers Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon.

She is survived by two sons, Robert Harrison Kirby Jr. and wife, Elizabeth, of Finksburg, Md., Richard Leroy Kirby and wife, Donna, of Newark, Del.; a daughter, Elaine R. Messick and husband, George, of Delmar; a brother, William Richard Logue Jr. and wife, Charlotte, of Bishopville; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Mabel Dorothy Gordon.

Services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in St John's United Methodist Church on Pine and Poplar streets in Seaford, where friends may call from 1-2 p.m. prior to the services. The Rev. Christopher Pennington will officiate. A graveside service will be held Monday at 1 p.m. in Deer Park United Methodist Church Cemetery at 2205 Sykesville Road in Westminster, Md.

Arrangements are by Watson-Yates Funeral Home in Seaford.