Melvin James Kirby, 70, of Gallipolis, died Tuesday September 4, 2012, at the Arbors at Gallipolis. Born October 28, 1941, in Gallipolis, Melvin was the son of the late Edward Coleman Kirby and the late Sallie Margaret Gardner Kirby.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Audrey Stewart; by a brother, Edward Kirby; and by a step-daughter, Tammy Stewart.

Melvin was a retired Auto body repairman.

Melvin is survived by a sister, Margaret (Walter) Hively of Gallipolis; a brother, Frank Kirby of Gallipolis; daughters, Ruth Kirby of Point Pleasant and Tonya Birtcher of Crown City; sons, Bradley Stewart and Melvin Stewart, both of Gallipolis; stepdaughters, Helen Rosemary Birchfield of Gallipolis Ferry, Elizabeth Sperry of Goshen and Arvilla Nickell of Wilmington; and grandchildren, Calvin Kirby, Dylan Birtcher, Jacob Birtcher, Ricky Miller, Melvin Miller and Austin Miller.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2012, at the Waugh-Halley-Wood Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Pine Street Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from noon until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Arbors at Gallipolis in Melvin’s memory.