James A. Kirby

James A. (Jim) Kirby, 91 of Pittsburg, died at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.

He was born Dec. 11, 1924 in Carthage, Mo., the son of Earl and Goldie (Allsman) Kirby. He was a 1942 graduate of Mindenmines High School.

Jim was a veteran of WWII serving his country in the United States Army Air Corps. Entering the service in 1943 he served as a flight engineer on B24s, B17s and C54s. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1952.

He married Anni Reibenwein in 1946; she preceded him in death in 1963. He then married Patricia McAtee in 1971 at Greenbush, Kan., and she preceded him in death in July 2008.

Jim started farming in 1952 and continued throughout his life. Additionally, he was a flight instructor at the Pittsburg Kansas Airport and gave flight instructions to the Pittsburg State University ROTC.

Survivors include three sons; Al Kirby and wife Carrie of Wichita, Brian Kirby and wife Elizabeth of Damascus, Md., Kevin Kirby and wife Becca of Bentonville, Ark.; grandchildren, Alan Kirby and wife Suzanne, Lisa Lammey, Brooke Belcher and husband Steve, Alison Mewhinney and husband Will Maria and James Kirby, Blair, Kennedy and Macy Kirby; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wives Anni and Patricia; a brother Ivan Kirby, three sisters, Mildred Kirby, Audrey Burnside and Marjorie Etcheson, and a grandson Jesse Kirby.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsburg with Pastor Lynn Spencer officiating. Burial will follow in the Nashville Cemetery, Nashville, Mo.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg where friends may call after 3 p.m. Condolences can be sent to www.bathnaylor.com. Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Jude's Children's Research. Memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, Kan., 66762.