Acushnet – Carolyn Shaw (Kirby) Gilmore, 82, of Acushnet died at home after a brief illness, surrounded by her husband and three sons on April 11, 2004. She was the wife of Stephen Gilmore, they were married for 59 years.
Mrs. Gilmore was born and raised in New Bedford, daughter of the late Edgar Williams Kirby and Sarah Louise (Woodcock) Kirby, and resided in Acushnet since 1945. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School, class of 1940. She was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church, New Bedford as a child and young adult and the First Congregational Church of Rochester at the time of her death. She enjoyed a long career with the Verizon Company beginning as a telephone operator during WW II and retiring as an executive secretary in 1975.
In her retirement, Mrs. Gilmore volunteered at Tobey Hospital, Wareham; The New Bedford Glass Museum; The Acushnet Apple-Peach Festival; The Friends of the Friends Meeting House, Inc. in Acushnet; and the Long Plain Museum, Acushnet. She was a docent at the New Bedford Glass Museum and a member of the Friends of the Friends Meeting House, Inc. Mrs. Gilmore’s spirit, compassion and joy of life were an inspiration to all who knew her.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by 3 sons: Kirby S. Gilmore and his wife Carolyn of Rochester, MA, Benjamin A. Gilmore II and his wife Susan of Rochester, MA and Dean R. Gilmore and his wife Elaine of Acushnet, MA; 6 grandchildren: Stephen J. Gilmore and his wife Sherrie Ann of Orangeburg, SC, Julie Ann Gilmore of Acushnet, MA, Alison Gilmore of New York, NY, Abigail Gilmore of Rochester, MA, Revel Gilmore and Cassander Gilmore both of Rochester, MA; and 2 great-grandchildren: Jesse Dean Gilmore and McKenzie Ann Gilmore both of Orangeburg, SC.
She was sister of the late Constance Kirby (her identical twin) and Charlotte Kirby and niece of the late Clairbourne Kirby, founder of the Kirby Funeral Home.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, April 24, 2004 at 10:00 A.M at the First Congregational Church of Rochester, 11 Constitution Way, Rochester, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Nurse & Hospice Care, 62 Centre Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719.