Leonard Kirby Ireland, 63, of Tifton died Thursday, February 28, 2013, at his home, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Eastside Baptist Church. Dr. Greg Love and Rev. Jim Wiley will officiate with burial to follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn. John Tanner, Jerry Hobbs, Guy Haynes, Bill Justine, Wayne Pridgen and Wes Shannon will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the 1st John Sunday school class at Eastside Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 1, 2013, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Ireland was born on January 10, 1950 and was the son of Harrell Ireland of Arnoldsville and the late Elma Maddox Ireland. Kirby was of the Christian faith and a member of Eastside Baptist Church. He loved his church family and his Sunday school class, 1st John, where he was a faithful member. Kirby enlisted in the United States Army in 1967 and served in the Vietnam War. His work career started in construction, where he worked for several years, and enjoyed the hands-on work and seeing a stack of lumber and brick become a home or business. He also worked for Tift Regional Medical Center in maintenance and ABAC as plumber for several years. He made several good and dear friends during his work career. Kirby enjoyed watching NASCAR races and, when in better health, he enjoyed putting models of vintage airplanes together.
Mr. Ireland is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carol Manus Ireland of Tifton; one son, Gabriel “Gabe” Ireland of Tifton; his father and step-mother, Harrell and Betty Jo Ireland of Arnoldsville; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Starling and Roger Giddens of Ashburn and Mitzi and Mark Nobles of Saint Simons Island; two step brothers and their wives, Randy and Valerie Goff of Buford and Jeff and Jennifer Goff of Hernando, Mississippi; one step-sister and her husband, Barbara and Bill Luke of Winterville; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Marjorie and Jim Freeman of Ashburn and Brenda and Bobby Olmo of Memphis, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.