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Date of Birth: June 12, 1927
Died On: April 4, 1990
Street Address: 36 Orchard Ave
Branch of Service: Merchant Marines -WWII, US Army – Korea – Company L, 223rd Infantry , 40th Infantry
George Kirby was born in Rye on the 12th of June 1927. He lived with his family of eight at 36 Orchard Ave. The family were parishioners of the Curch of the Resurrection, and George was a member of the merchant committee. George’s parents were Marion Winkler and John “Jack” Kirby. George was one of seven children. His siblings were sisters named Adelaide, Marion and Joan and brothers, John, James and Thomas
George attended Resurrection School in Rye and Rye High School, where he played Football and acted in a school play. He was nicknamed ‘Big Red’ and was known for his witty sense of humor.
George graduated early from high school in January 1945 to serve in WWII. He joined the U.S. Merchant Marines and would serve in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1946. Five years later, during the Korean War in 1950, he enlisted into the U.S. Army. He was then promoted to Sergeant First Class and served in Company L, 223rd Infantry, 40th Infantry Division.
In Korea, the 40th Infantry Division participated in the battles of Sandbag Castle and Heartbreak Ridge. In these campaigns, the division suffered 1,180 casualties, including 311 who were killed in action, and 47 who later died from wounds received in action. Total division casualties in Korea included 376 killed in action, 1,457 wounded in action, and 47 dead of wounds.
George married Carol Lee Delgado on June 7th 1959 in Resurrection Church. They had three children.
George was a letter carrier for the Rye Post Office, a volunteer fireftghter, and was elected Rye Fire Chief in 1970. He was a member of the Port Chester-Rye Ex-Fire Chiefs Association. George was also co-owner of Over The Bridge, a restaurant located in the Dublin section of Rye – now The Rye Roadhouse. He was a great cook and for many years operated his own catering business “Piece of Cake Catering” for corporate and private events.
George died of cancer on April 4th,1990 at United Hospital Medical Center in Port Chester at age 62.
George was survived by two sons, George A Kirby and John T. Kirby, daughter, Carin Kirby, two brothers, James Kirby and John Kirby, all of Rye: and three sisters, Adelaide McGee of Harrison, and Marion Maloney and Joan O’Keefe both of Rye. His wife Carol died in 1970.
George had two first cousins, James Kirby Taylor and John E. Bassett, died in WWII. Other family members who served in WWII include his brother John A. Kirby, his uncle Charles Winkler, cousins Thomas O’Reilly and Stephen O’Reilly, and brothers in law Thomas J Maloney and Thomas F McGee. All are honored on the Rye City Hall WWII Memorial.
After George’s death, his friends started a golf tournament in his memory. The annual “George Kirby Golf Tournament” for the benefit of the Rye Senior Citizens, has been played for over 30 years. The tournament has raised hundreds of thousand of dollars to help finance programs for the senior citizens of Rye, NY. More on Kirby.
