Ralph Thomas Kirby

Mr. Ralph Thomas Kirby, 74, of Chester, died Friday, March 6, 2009 at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, SC. The funeral will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with Rev. Clay Waldrip officiating.Interment will be 3:00 PM Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Spartanburg, SC. Born in Pacolet, SC on April 5, 1934, he was the son of the late Barney Thomas and Lilly Webb Kirby.He attended the schools of Spartanbrug County and Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. He was of the Baptist faith.Mr Kirby wasowner and operator of Kirby Automotive Group and Current Fleet Manager of Lancaster Motor Company.He was a member and past president of Carolina Automobile Leasing Association and NADA and SCADA.He was a Mason, former member of Board of Directors of Boy Scouts of America, North Carolina former member of Lions Club, Durham, NC, former President of Serenity Club in Rock Hill, SC, former chairman of American Red Cross for Chester, SC, former member of Chester County Hospital Board and current President of Richburg Fire Association, former member of Rock Hill Elks Club, founding member of The Hard Core Group in Chester, former Board member of Keystone, Business Person of the Year 1994 for Chester County, Past President of Willowhaven Country Club in Durham, NC and former member of Spartanburg Jaycees. He was survived by his wife Teresa Elgin Kirby; three sons, Ron T. Kirby and his wife Robin of Tega Cay, SC, Steve Kirby and his wife Lynn of Cumming, GA and Bart Kirby of Rock Hill, SC; two step-sons, Donnie Elgin and his wife Kitty of Ridgeway, SC and Daryl Elgin and his wife Katherine of Columbia, SC; one step-daughter Dawn Berryhill and her husband Chris of Lexington, SC; two sisters, Faye Loving and Helen Cox both of Spartanburg, SC; one brother Ricky Kirby of Savannah, GA,twelve grandchildren, Jacqueline, Lauren, Lyndsay, Josh, Sierra, Kassy, and Preston Kirby, Luke, Carly, and Dallas Elgin and Christina and Caitlyn Berryhill. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Kirby and a grandson Garrett Elgin. The family will receive friends from 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. Monday at Barron Funeral Home, 133 Wylie Street, Chester. Memorials may be made to Autism Speaks, 5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2250, Los Angeles, CA 90036 or Keystone, PO Box 4437, Rock Hill, SC 29732 or Turning Point, 112 Gadsden Street, Chester, SC 29706. Condolences to the family can be made at www.barronfuneralhome.com.