John James Kirby, Jr.

�John James Kirby, Jr., 84, resident of Milford, NH, died November 29, 2008 at St. Josephs Hospital, Nashua, NH.� He was born in Milford, NH on August 28, 1924, a son of the late John and Eva (Cochrane) Kirby.� Mr. Kirby was raised and educated in Milford, graduating from Milford High School, Class of 1943.� He enlisted in the Naval Air Corps and was assigned to the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga, serving in the Pacific Theater until the end of the war with Japan.� He was awarded The Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster for wounds received while serving in action.� Following the war, he resided in Philadelphia until he returned with his wife and son to Milford in 1953.� From 1953-1990, he was employed in manufacturing by Sprague and Carleton and Ingersoll-Rand.� He was an active member of Harley Sanford Post #4368 VFW in Milford for several years.� In addition, he was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed woodworking.� Mr. Kirby was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Norma Adair Kirby, in 2002.� He was also predeceased by a brother, Walter Kirby, and two sisters, Mary Signor and Virley Kaye, all of Milford.� He was the grandfather of the late Christopher R. Kirby of Amherst, NH.�He is survived by his son, John W. Kirby and daughter-in-law, Virginia Hall Kirby of Amherst, NH; three grandchildren, Pamela Kirby Urick of Bedford, NH, David S. Kirby of Brookline, NH and Major Jason T. Kirby, USAF of Alexandria, VA and seven great-grandchildren.� There are no visiting hours.� Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 4th at 1:30 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH.� Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Milford, with military honors.� In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 2 Wall Street, Manchester, NH� 03101.�