Marvin Nathaniel Kirby was born September 11, 1933 in Washington, DC to Annie and Anthony Kirby. He attended Bruce Elementary, Banneker Junior High and graduated from Cardozo High School in 1952. In high school, he had three newspaper routes, saving up to buy his first car. He served two years in the United States Army and 29 years in the federal government, working his way up from chauffeur to chief of the travel division for the United States Department of State. Marvin was a talented baseball and football player and avid fan of the Washington Nationals and Washington Redskins. He briefly played baseball in the Negro leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates, while serving in the Army and for the Maryland Tigers, Northeast Athletics and the Brunswick Pirates in the GA-FL league; he also played softball while working at State Department.
On May 12, 1956, Marvin married his wife of 66 years, Vannie Crowder and was a father to five children. He had an impeccable memory and loved recalling stories of his life from childhood through late adulthood. He loved driving and last drove Jan. 1, 2022. He enjoyed eating crabs at the beach, playing bid whist, attending cabarets with family and friends, playing the lottery and attending Cardozo high school reunions as a proud alumnus. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Annie and Anthony, two sisters, Shirley and Betty, one brother, Charles and his son, Joseph (Dale). He is survived by his wife, Vannie, his children: Pam (Lester), Victor, Vanessa and Marva, his brother James (Cora), his brothers-in-law, LeRoy and Freddie, sister-in-law, Gracie, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Listen to Marvin tell more of his story in his own words at this link:
https://digdc.dclibrary.org/islandora/object/dcplislandora%3A283867