John Roy Kirby

John Roy Kirby, age 85, of Lenoir, passed away Monday, March 4, 2019 at his residence.He was born December 28, 1933 in Caldwell County to the late Harvey Milroy and Fannie Craig Kirby.In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his two sisters, Mary Virginia Kirby Robbins and her husband, Carroll; Rayma Lou Kirby Robbins, and her husband Curtis, and his nephew, Daryl Kirby Robbins. Survivors include his wife Eula Mae Woodring Kirby of the home; daughter Patricia Lynn Kirby Whitley, her husband, Jonathan, and sons, Joshua and Jace of Atlanta; son, Lyndon Craig Kirby, and his wife Suyong Yun Kirby; and their children, Ella and Noah, of Cary, NC.John is also survived by his niece, Anne Robbins Wilcox, and his nephews, Raflee and Janet Robbins, Alan and Debbie Robbins, Steve and Linda Robbins, John and Sharon Robbins, and widow of Daryl Kirby Robbins, Becky Winkler Robbins as well as many great, and great-great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his “heart children”, Angela Patterson, from Rock Hill, SC; Steve and Peggy Starnes and children, Ashley, Emma (Starnes) Wulsin; Carolyn and Tony Whitt, and sons, Nathaniel and Tristan; and Greg and Julia Watson. John served in the United States Air Force helping to rebuild the air travel infrastructures in France and Germany destroyed during World War II and later served as an actuarial and statistician for the Air Force during the Korean War, for which he received a Korean War Service medal. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Lenoir Rhyne College, and later received his master’s degree in Education from Appalachian State University. He taught mathematics, science and history and coached basketball in the Caldwell County School System for 34 years, first at Oak Hill Elementary School and then from Happy Valley Elementary School, from where he retired. He was a very active member of Crestview Baptist Church where he served as an adult Sunday School teacher for 47 years, as a deacon in various capacities for 45 years, and for 15 years as a leader with the Christian youth program for boys called, Royal Ambassador. Among his many hobbies were farming, bee keeping, wood cutting, and taking his better half to yard sales. After their retirement, John and Eula Mae dedicated themselves to a personal ministry of visiting rest homes, those who were in need in the community. The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 Thursday afternoon, March 7, at Crestview Baptist Church (1908 Blowing Rock Blvd, Lenoir, NC 28645). Funeral services will be held immediately afterwards at Crestview from 6:00-7:00 conducted by Reverend Michael Isaacs who was a former student of Mr. Kirby at Happy Valley Elementary. A Graveside Service will be held Friday, March 8, 2019 at 11:00 am at Blue Ridge Memorial Park with full Military Honors by the United States Air Force and Caldwell County Honor Guard. Serving as pallbearers will be Raflee, Steve, John and Mikey Robbins, Tony Whitt and Stephen Starnes. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be to sent to Crestview Baptist Church (https://crestviewbaptistchurch.net/); Caldwell County Hospice and Pallative Care (http://www.caldwellhospice.org/); or Smile Train, a ministry that provides free services to children born with cleft palates, a ministry John supported for the last decade (https://my.smiletrain.org/donation/donate/givenow) Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family.