MILFORD - Blanche L. Kirby, of Milford, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. She was 89. She was born in Delmar, to the late J. Thomas "Tom" and Lillian C. Elliott. Mrs. Kirby attended Wilmington Memorial in 1940, after graduating from Delmar High School the same year, to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated in 1943 with a Nursing Degree and worked as a nurse at Wilmington Memorial where she met her late husband Russell Kirby. After the birth of their son, she became a stay at home mom and the ultimate supporter of her husband's many endeavors. She was a staple at the family business, Kirby and Holloway Provision Company. Mrs. Kirby was instrumental in starting the first ever cooking demonstrations of Kirby and Holloway products in local grocery stores; she was proud of the company and their products. She loved many things, traveling, gardening, working her flower beds, bird watching but anyone who knew her knew her passion was her family and she loved supporting them in their hobbies. Mrs. Kirby was a dedicated member of the Christ Episcopal Church in Milford where she enjoyed attending services and various fellowship activities. Above all she was a devoted wife and mother. She gave selflessly for her family and for anyone else that she could. She was an amazing woman who will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; her second mother, Sarah Cleo Lear Elliott (whom her father married after her mother died at a young age); husband, Russell Kirby; and brother, Paul Thomas Elliott. Survivors include her son, Russell "Rudy" Kirby II of Milford; and brother and sister-in-law, John W. and Barbra Elliott of Delmar. Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 South DuPont Hwy., Harrington, where a visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Milford Community Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Melvin Funeral Home, visit our website at www.melvinfuneralhome.com for further information, leave a letter of condolence, or to send flowers.