William R Kirby Sr.

HORRELL HILL - A celebration of life service for William Roland Kirby, Sr. will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, August 1, 2015 in The Family Life Center, First Presbyterian Church (corner of Washington St. and Bull St.), Columbia, S.C. of conducted by the Rev. Craig Wilkes. Burial in the church cemetery will immediately follow the service. The family will greet friends in Jackson Hall after the burial. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Mr. Kirby passed away suddenly and unexpectedly July 25, 2015 from a tragic automobile-truck accident. Born September 20, 1944, in Charleston S.C., he was the son of Thomas Roland Kirby and Mary Claytor McKinnon Kirby. The family moved to Mary’s ancestral home in Horrell Hill in 1947. Bill has continued to live at Horrell Hill other than a brief time in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Lower Richland High School in 1962, from Wingate College in 1965 and from Richland Technical College in 1967. In 1967 he began a long career with Southern Bell in the Engineering Department, retiring in 2003. During his years at Southern Bell he received numerous awards and citations for his contributions to advancement of technology. In 1968, he answered the call to serve his country as a volunteer for the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1969. Bill had a deep passion for patriotism to his country and was proud that he had been a part of the military. Bill was married to Camille Parrish, December 1967. They would have celebrated 48 years of marriage this December. He was a loving and caring person to his parents, Camille, his children, grandchildren, cousins and friends, ever ready to give advice and assist with projects related to building or electronics. All who knew Bill considered him to be an honorable and humble man. As a member of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, he cherished the fellowship and Gospel-related teaching in the worship services and Sunday School classes. He enjoyed being involved in the Horrell Hill Supper Club, fishing and boating. One of his most enjoyable accomplishments was building a second home on the Black River in Georgetown, S.C. where he spent many fun times with family and friends. In addition to his wife, Camille, Bill is survived by his son, William Roland “Billy” Kirby, Jr. (Lezlee) of Lexington, S.C.; daughter, Katherine Senter (Todd) of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Advance, N.C.; grandchildren, Mary Alice and Elizabeth Kirby, Coleman Senter; and many loving cousins and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion St., Columbia, SC 29201; The Pediatric Congenital Heart Association, 14 Ellis Potter Ct. Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711; or The Juvenile Diabetes Research Fdn., 1122 Lady St. Suite 1000, Columbia, SC 29201. Donations to the latter two may also be made on their websites.