James Burton Kirby Jr.

His early years were spent in this area where he enjoyed being near the river. In the seventh grade he had a teacher who was also pastor of a small Baptist church near his home. Through that connection he committed his life to Christ. He said that decision affected him for the rest of his life. At sixteen he moved to St. Louis and lived with his sister. While there he attended the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis. It was there he was helped in spiritual growth and set the course for his life.

Jim joined the Air Force in 1951 and soon was shipped to Wichita Falls for training. While there he met Ruth Hernandez through church. They were married March 15, 1953. Through the years they were blessed with four children, Lisa, Gail, Maribeth and John Mark.

Jim's twenty-three year career in the Air Force took him many places, including Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Greenland, Viet Nam and Italy. Jim and Ruth were committed Christians who kept their children in church, even in their travels. Jim was pleased that all his children followed in his steps to serve Christ and be involved in their local churches. He encouraged his children to get an education and supported them as they did. After retirement Jim and Ruth moved to Missouri and eventually ended up in Arlington, Texas to be nearer their children. Jim had always been a big St. Louis Cardinals fan but managed to avidly follow the Texas Rangers, too. The Lord called Jim home December 17, 2020, at age ninety. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".

Services with full Air Force Honors will be bestowed upon Jim at 3:15 pm Monday, December 28, 2020 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, TX.