Joe Kirby's Obituary
Joe Dean Kirby, age 78 of Bolivar, went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 01, 2010 after a long battle with liver cancer. He was born June 5, 1931 at Aldrich, MO, the son of Owen Coy and Mary Lucinda Rowan Kirby. Joe was united in marriage to Wanda J. Hutchins, February 17, 1952, and to this union two sons and one daughter were born. Joe was a veteran of the Korean War and after his return from Korea, Joe and Wanda made their home in Bolivar, where he worked for Empire District Electric Co. for 43 years. He was saved when he was 13, was baptized and joined the Aldrich Methodist Church. He later moved his membership to Mt. Gilead Methodist Church and then the Bolivar United Methodist Church where he remained a faithful member as long as his health permitted. Joe was a kind and gentle man who found great pleasure in helping a friend or neighbor. He was not a man of so many words but deeds. Preceding him in death were one son, Steven Wesley, his parents, Owen and Mary Kirby and a sister-in-law, Georgia Kirby. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Wanda, one daughter Janelle and her husband, Roger House, of Clinton, MO; one son David and his wife Kim of Weston, MO. Four grandchildren: Joel House, Kansas City; Deanna House, Clinton, MO; Coy Kirby of Weston, MO; and Andrea Franklin of Kansas City and one great-grandchild, J.J. Jackson. One aunt, Helen Rotrock, Springfield, a brother, Lee Kirby of Doniphan, MO and a sister, Mary Lou and her husband Jerry McGeeHee of Springfield. Funeral Services will be held at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, February 5 at 11:00 a.m.with Rev. Dan Adkison and Rev. James O. Friend officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery with Full Military Honors Conducted by the Fifth District Honor Guard of the AMVETS Post #114, Flemington, MO. Family visitation will be at Butler Funeral Home Thursday evening, 5-7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Bolivar United Methodist Church, 105 E. Division Street, Bolivar, Missouri 65613 or to the Citizen’s Memorial Hospice Program, 1500 N. Oakland Avenue, Bolivar, Missouri 65613. Friends and family may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com Return to top
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