Kirby, Clarence Austin

In Memory of Clarence Austin Kirby
October 6, 1944 — October 13, 2003

On a warm September day in 1951, fifty six-year-olds from the Kenly area gathered in Mrs. Hardison and Mrs. Corbett's first grade classrooms to begin their first of twelve years of education. Twenty-seven of these students graduated from Kenly High School in May, 1963. Among them was Clarence Austin Kirby. Austin was a fun-loving member of his class and always happy to share the joy of life with his friends.

Austin was the son of Clarence and Clara Pittman Kirby. He grew up in Kenly, enjoyed being with his friends, and sharing in many of their activities. While at Kenly High School, he participated in Glee Club, school plays, and was a member of the school annual staff that published the Galleon. After high school, Austin attended Campbell College.

Austin married Kay Cox in 1966. Austin and his wife had one son, Clarence Austin Kirby II. The family resided in Raleigh, North Carolina, until 1972.

Austin and Carolyn Mozingo Kirby were married on April 24, 1977, at Farmville Methodist Church in Farmville, North Carolina. The couple and their children — Kristen and Mark — lived in Raleigh until they moved back to Kenly in 1989. Back in his home town, Austin became an active member of the community again, and his hobbies of fishing and golfing gave him opportunities to renew old friendships. One of his proudest moments was making a hole-in-one with a four iron on the eighth hole at Lakeshore Country Club in Durham. His love of reading lead to his appointment as a member of the Kenly Library Board and the Johnston County Library Board.

After Austin retired from IBM as a systems analyst, he worked as a sales associate for Kenly Ford. He always loved cars and had one of the first Ford Mustangs in the Kenly area; a bright red one. The time he spent at Kenly Ford gave him many pleasures and acquainted him with new friends.

The church family at Kenly United Methodist Church was very important to Austin and his family. He was an active member, served on the Board of Trustees, and named Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The Kenly High School Class of 1963 gave this page in memory of Clarence Austin Kirby.