Tombstone Tuesday

Irby Eugene Klinck Irby Eugene Klinck was the middle son of Memphis Chief Irby Monroe Klinck and Ella Cushing. He met Gertrude Maxey at the Malone Park swimming pool, where he was a lifeguard; they married in 1932 when he was 19 years old. They had a daughter, Beverly, but the marriage was not meant to be and they soon divorced. In 1942 he married again, this time to Mary “Jackie” Nolan. They were together until Irby’s death in 1982. During World War II, Irby was a technician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving primarily in Italy.  He continued to struggle with alcohol for the rest of his life.  A bit of mystery surrounds Irby's names. In almost every record we have (including his headstone), he is listed as "Irby E. Klinck, Jr."  However, his father's middle name is Monroe - not Eugene. Perhaps since his dad was so well known in town, it was easier to distinguish between them by tacking on the "jr.." Then there's his nickname. Everyone called Irby "Piggie." Irby called his brother, Merrill, "Nook." No one living knows the origin of either nickname. All we know, is that they stuck! We do know the origin of his first name. His great great grandfather was South Carolina plantation owner William Carter Irby. Side note: Admittedly, we’re making a bit of a presumed connection between Irby’s relationship with alcohol and his wartime experiences. But it’s not a wild one. The modern understanding and acceptance of PTSD did not exist when WW2 veterans began coming home. For an interesting look at the treatment of PTSD and other psychological challenges during WW2 (which sometimes included dispensing liquor to soldiers), visit the History of PTSD blog.

Inscription: "To Nook and Rita with love, Pig"

Personal Data		Tombstone Data
Birth:	13 Jul 1913	City:	Memphis, TN
Marriage:	1 Aug 1932 to Gertrude Maxey 28 May 1942 to Jackie Nolan	Cemetery:	Calvary
Death:	23 Nov 1982	Section:
		GPS:

TEC5, or "Technician"  was Irby's rank in the Army Medical Corps