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Alton Telegraph obituary
Billy Kirby
BETHALTO
Billy D. Kirby, 65, went to be with the Lord at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006, at home with his family by his side. He was born March 10, 1941, in Rardin, Ill., to Ira H. and Bernice (Brookins)
Kirby.
He married the former Marge Ogle on June 12, 1960, in Alton. She survives.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1964. He worked as a journeyman electrician at Owens- Illinois machine shop for 10 years. He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Bethalto. He was involved with the Bethalto Knights of Columbus and the Bethalto Jaycees. He was an avid Cubs fan, loved to watch baseball and played with his pinochle group every Tuesday night. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and always enjoyed having a family game night once a week. He was a 21-year survivor of a heart transplant, which he received on July 31, 1985. He was No. 8 on the transplant list at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and a pioneer in the field of transplants.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Deena and Michael Hovatter, and a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Michele Kirby, all of Bethalto; six grandchildren, Erin and Brittany Hovatter, Jerremy, Jerilyn, Jarrod and Mary Jae Kirby; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert M. and Judy Kirby of Peachtree, Ga.; one sister and brother-in-law, Violet M. and Wayne Steward of Brighton; several sisters-inlaw and brothers-in law, Alice and Dan Sinclair of Crossville, Tenn., Lester and Mary Ogle Jr. and Carl E. Ogle, all of Alton, Jean Ogle of Wood River and Wanda and Gary Bourland of Bethalto; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
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