Francis A. Kirby, M.D., 83, a retired surgeon, of Marion, formerly of Brockton and Hyannisport, died Saturday January 18, 2003 at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion after a long illness. He was the husband of Betty Webster Kirby and the late Alice (Mullins) Kirby.
Born in Whitman, the son of the late Francis A. and Mabel (Linn) Kirby, he had lived in Brockton and Hyannisport, before moving to Marion 14 years ago.
He was a communicant of St. Rita's Church.
Dr. Kirby was a surgeon on the staffs of Brockton Hospital and Cardinal Cushing Hospital. In the late 1970s, he served as chief of staff at Cardinal Cushing Hospital. He had formerly maintained offices in Brockton and Randolph. He later owned and operated the Industrial Medical Center in New Bedford until his retirement in 1992.
Dr. Kirby was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Class of 1941, and Harvard Medical School, Class of 1944. He served his internship and surgical residency at Boston City Hospital. During World War II, he served as Captain in the Army Medical Corps from 1945-1947. He served at Fort Lewis, Washington, and later as port surgeon in Yokohama, Japan.
He was a past president of the Holy Cross Club of Plymouth County and the Plymouth County Medical Society. He was a member of the American Medical Assoication, the American Society of Abdominal Surgeons, and the Southeastern Peer Review Organization.
Survivors include his wife; 4 sons, Francis Kirby of Needham, Charles Kirby of Weymouth, Philip Kirby of Marstons Mills and Hyde Park, and Paul Kirby of Hingham; 4 daughters, Anne Kirby Kinsella of Waquoit, Mary Alice Cook of North Haven, CT, Barbara Kirby of Cohasset and Centerville, and Maria Hooton of Marstons Mills; 2 brothers, Bernard Kirby of East Bridgewater and Edward Kirby of Whitman; 3 sisters, Marguerite Cunningham of Norwell, Norma McCornarty of Auburn, and Rosalie Queeney of Madison, CT; 10 grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett Tuesday January 21, 2003 at 9 AM.Funeral Mass at St. Rita's Church, 113 Front St., Marion at 10 AM.Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Monday January 20, 2003 from 3-7 PM. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery, Whitman. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to either the Marion Council on Aging or Marion Emergency Medical Services, 2 Spring St., Marion, MA 02738.