Lawnmower man
Article Photos
By HOLLY STEFNAOFF (hstefanoff@reviewonline.com)
CALCUTTA - The Kirkbride family has a great deal of history in the cemetery of Longs Run Presbyterian Church in Calcutta.
Carl Kirkbride, now of Summit Drive, is part of that history.
Kirkbride and his brother Paul began cutting the three acres of the cemetery grass at ages 14 and 17 for the summers from 1942-1943 with non-power shove mowers. Together, they made $23 per week for their efforts. Their family attended church at Longs Run and the family lived only a short distance down the road.
Kirkbride graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1946 and began work in Homer Laughlin China Co. in the data processing department. After being drafted into the United States Army in 1950 to fight in the Korean War, Kirkbride returned home and continued work at Homer Laughlin.
He and his wife Anne married April 26, 1952, at Longs Run and raised children Dan, Kathy, Laura and Amey.
Following his retirement from Weirton Steel in 1991, Kirkbride got a place on the Longs Run Cemetery Board and has been secretary and treasurer ever since. He has continued to cut the grass and be caretaker of the lawns of the cemetery which has grown to more than four acres.
"I like the outside," Kirkbride said. "I enjoy talking to people when they come to visit the graves. Sometimes I give them the assurance that this is not the end."
Kirkbride's mother, father, grandmother and grandfather all rest in the Longs Run Cemetery, where he said he and his wife will join them someday.
Kirkbride said, "When people come to visit, I quit doing what I'm doing and any way I can help I do it. I like to see them happy about what we're doing here and how we take care of the markers."
Kirkbride becomes emotional when he tells visitors about Christ dying on the cross. "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise," he quoted.
With help from his son Dan, granddaughter Sara and grandson Daniel, Kirkbride cuts the grass and maintains the gravestones each week.
He has graduated to power mowers and pours passion and dedication into the cemetery to continue the legacy of devoted caretakers before him.
