Posted by: thepinetree on 03/10/2010 03:44 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 03/12/2010 09:31 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
:
Ben Kirby, Retired Engineer, Passed Away on February 21st, 2010
Bennie (Buster) James Kirby, of Valley Springs, CA died on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 in his home with his beloved family. He was 79. He lived in Calaveras county for the last 24 years of his life and had vowed to retire here after spending many of his younger years hunting in the Calaveras hills....
Ben was born May 20, 1929 in Wetumka, Oklahoma. The country life and his depression era childhood were the basis of many of the stories Ben shared with his family. As a young man, Ben loved hunting, camping and water skiing with his family. He worked as an engineer for several companies and traveled many places, most memorably to Hungary in '85 and Japan in '96. In 1972, he started his own company, Victor Mechanical, and remained licensed until 2007. In more recent years, Ben's greatest sense of pride and accomplishment, was watching his family grow and succeed.
Ben proudly served in the U.S. Army World War II era and Special Operations from July 1946 through July 1949. He was a dual member of American Legion Post # 102 in Valley Springs, where he served in many Officer positions, and of VFW Post # 2600 in San Andreas. He was also a Life Member of VFW Post #4495 in Taylorville, Illinois. He was very active in his community and known for his willingness to help when or wherever needed. He particularly enjoyed participating in the Santa's Express program and any event that included Veteran's.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following members of Amador/Calaveras Hospice for their respectful, caring and dignified care of Ben: Kimberly, Julie, Susan, Mark, Phil and Dick. Also our gratitude to Chris B. and Chris C. of Superior Health Medical Supplies.
Ben will be forever missed by his loving family, including daughter, Cynthia Kirby of Valley Springs, granddaughter Jessica Massoletti of El Cerrito, CA, grandson Dexter Massoletti of Valley Springs, CA and son, Kenneth Kirby (Christine) of San Diego, CA.
A Military Memorial Service celebrating Ben's life will begin at 1:00pm, Saturday, March 20th at the VFW Post #2600 Hall in San Andreas. Internment will be private at Santa Nella National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Amador/Calaveras Hospice, P.O. Box 596, Jackson, CA 95642
|
