[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E11-E12]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF WAYNE KIRBY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 10, 2023

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Wayne 
Kirby, who passed away on April 3, 2022, at the age of 69.

[[Page E12]]

  Wayne grew up in and lived his entire life in Studley, Virginia. He 
was the second of four boys born to I.D. and Allene Kirby. He took a 
keen interest in agriculture as a young boy, milking cows and feeding 
hogs in the morning and working on Jimmy Brannan's vegetable farm in 
the afternoon.
  Wayne attended Lee Davis High School, where he was a proud member--
and eventually the president--of its Future Farmers of America club. He 
graduated from Lee Davis High School in 1971, and subsequently enlisted 
in the Army National Guard. That same year, he bought his first car--a 
brand new 1971 Royal Blue Monte Carlo, which he owned and was proud of 
for his entire life.
  After the Lee Davis High School vs. Hermitage High School football 
game on November 16, 1973, Wayne met his wife, Karen. They got married 
5 years later on September 16, 1978. Wayne and Karen were a match made 
in heaven. They had 2 sons, Grayson and Graham. Wayne was extremely 
proud of the men his sons became.
  Wayne was a dedicated farmer and member of the agricultural community 
in Virginia. He began his 30 years of working at Alliance Fertilizer in 
1971. He purchased his mother's family farm in 1976, which became 
Creamfield Farm. He served as the director of the Colonial Agricultural 
Educational Foundation, the Virginia Grain Producers Association, the 
Virginia Agribusiness Council. Wayne also sat on the Colonial Farm 
Credit Board of Directors, and on the Virginia Board of Agriculture and 
Consumer Services. His involvement extended even deeper into the 
community as he also previously served as the director of the Virginia 
Corn Check Off Board, as the director of the Virginia Corn Producers 
Board, on the Alliance Agronomics Board, and on the Hanover County Farm 
Service Agency Board. Wayne's life was indeed one of service, dedicated 
to Virginia's agriculture community.
  Wayne was also a man of unwavering faith--even during times of 
extreme hardship. By encouraging everyone to focus on God and His plan, 
he helped keep hope alive when Grayson was involved in a serious 
accident. Grayson eventually pulled through and is now thriving. Wayne 
also served as an Elder at the Mechanicsville Church of Christ, and 
recently served as its chairman.
  Wayne's belief that ``failure is not an option'' positively impacted 
those around him. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, 
brother, mentor, and friend. His life was full of service to his 
community, faith, and love. He will be missed. He is survived by his 
wife of 44 years, Karen; sons, Grayson and Graham; his grandchildren, 
Beau and Ava; brothers, Van (Dana) and Gary (Judy); and 8 nieces and 
nephews.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me and countless others in honoring 
the life of Wayne Kirby.

                          ____________________