Ruth Wyatt Kirby

She was born on the 14th of January, 1936 in Charlotte, NC to the late James Harold Wyatt and Janie Overcash Wyatt. Blessed with a large family, Ruth was the middle child of seven; she grew up with three siblings to look up to and three more to look out for.

In true Charlotte west side fashion, Ruth attended Harry P. Harding High School and graduated with the class of 1954. During her teenage years, she worked at a local five and dime store to make a little money and then took a job as a check processor at the Federal Reserve Bank to earn class credit. Joining the workforce so young instilled strong, independent, and hardworking values early on.

Around the time of her high school graduation, she attended a basketball game at Davidson College and met someone who would soon become very special to her: Mr. Max Kirby. After the game, they had their very first date at The Plantation, a bygone Charlotte restaurant on the corner of W. Morehead and Wilkinson.

The first time Ruth brought Max home to meet her parents, he was greeted with the nickname “Country Boy” and he sure lived up to it. He would rather go fishing than watch any game of sports, so no one is quite sure how they ended up meeting the night at the basketball game. Whether it was divine intervention or just a coincidence, Ruth and Max crossing paths led to a beautiful love and a wonderful life together. They officially became husband and wife on New Year’s Eve, 1954 in Gaffney, SC, less than one year after they met.

Several years later, the couple relocated just south of Uptown Charlotte, at which time Ruth stopped working at the bank and jumped into a role she grew to love so much – house wife and, not long after, mom.

In the 1960s, Ruth and Max adopted two incredible children – Max Jr. when he was just six weeks old, and a few years later came Robin, when she was six months old. Max and Robin were the greatest lights in Ruth’s life; she made sure to acknowledge and celebrate their adoption anniversaries every year, treating them like exciting second birthdays, and continued the beloved tradition into their teenage years.

As the kids grew up and Ruth and Max got older, the family enjoyed trips to the beach, with their favorite being North Myrtle Beach, and Ruth loved those excursions because it meant she got to spend time soaking up the sun. Once Max retired, they started to venture farther away in their travel trailer; they traveled to places such as the Grand Canyon and Alaska, and notably visited every state except for Idaho and Hawaii. They loved to go everywhere, as long as they were together.

Ruth was the sports fan in the family and was perfectly content to sit and watch basketball, college football, or NASCAR on tv. When it came down to it though, Ruth’s favorite thing to do was whatever made her family happy. She had a particularly close relationship with her siblings and their spouses, and she cherished time spent with them.

Ruth was spunky and thrifty, with impeccable taste. She had a good personality and was always friendly and polite, even when she was upset. Ruth was a true proper lady and she put her heart into every single thing she did.

Ruth is survived by her her son, Max Eugene Kirby, Jr.; her daughter, Robin K. Strickland and her husband, Ronnie; her grandchildren, Ronnie E. Strickland Jr., Janice Marie Strickland, Payden W. Strickland, and Brandon Patrakis; her great-grandson, Brantley Strickland; her sister, Amy W. Russell; her brother, Joe Wyatt and his wife, Becky; her brother-in-law, Joe Dean Kirby; and her sisters-in-law, Jean C. Wyatt and Ann A. Wyatt.

She has been reunited in Heaven with her loving husband of 66 years, Max Eugene Kirby Sr.; her parents, James and Janie; her brothers, James P. Wyatt, Larry W. Wyatt, and Robert O. Wyatt; and her sister, Patricia W. Starnes.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 10:00am until 10:45am on Wednesday, the 22nd of December, 2021 at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, 4601 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. The graveside service will be conducted it 11:00am in Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s name to the American Cancer Society.