Roberta Jean Kirby

KIRBY, Roberta Jean, age 96, of Kettering, OH passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Jean was born on July 22, 1928, to the late Max and Margaret (Morrow) Myers, in Piqua, OH. She graduated from Piqua High School, attended classes at Western College for Women (in Oxford, OH), before moving to Dayton, working as a secretary at Wright-Patterson AFB. A desire for adventure outside the Midwest led her to travel as a young Government Service member to Japan in 1954, where she met her future husband, CMSgt (USAF) Wayne Kirby, while he was stationed near Tokyo during his military career and she served as an Executive Assistant for USAF base leadership. They married in Tokyo in 1955, and shortly after started their family together. The Air Force moved the family to Germany and later, Michigan, before settling back in the Dayton area in 1965. While in Kettering, she was an active member of Fairmont Presbyterian Church and a volunteer for the local GOP district. Jean worked as an independent contractor for consumer product surveying in many of the local grocery chains and assisted at Dorothy Lane Market for a number of years in food photography and demonstrations and sampling events. Throughout her life Jean enjoyed baking and cooking and was always entertaining her circle of friends with new recipes and exotic foods. Her yearning for adventure never wavered, as she and Wayne traveled the world in retirement, visiting China, New Zealand, Australia, Europe several times, and all corners of the US, including Alaska. Later in life, she could be found walking early in the morning before sunrise, which she continued well into her 80s. Jean will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; and her husband of 60 years, Wayne Kirby.

Jean is survived by sons, Scott (Beth) Kirby and Jeff (Crystie) Kirby; and grandchildren, Steven (Samantha), Leah (Desha Sanders), Kevin and Riley. 

A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Association, 31 W. Whipp Rd., Dayton, OH 45459 or SICSA Pet Adoption Center, 8172 Washington Church Rd.

Dayton, OH 45458, in Jean’s name.