The Kirby’s at a glance

Published 2:19 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

Born: Dick: Feb. 19, 1944, Omaha, Neb.; Kris: born as

Kris Quaale, June 11, 1944, in Tolt (Carnation), Wash.

Married: Almost 30 years

Secret to long, happy marriage: Support each other’s

dreams and goals, appreciate the uniqueness of your spouse and let

him or her “be themselves”

Mentors: Dick: his parents, for supporting his decisions,

and his barber, Vern Amos, who expected him to go to college;

Kris: Jane Pickering, her Tolt High School home economics

teacher who encouraged her to go to college

What you originally wanted to be when you grew

up: Dick: professional baseball player; Kris: teacher

Hobbies: Dick: avid antique collector. “That’s probably

what I spend all of my time doing.” Kris: traveling and planning

trips, reading historical fiction and travel books, perennial

gardening. “I like nothing better than to dig around with a shovel and

good manure.”

Phrase most known for: Dick: “Oh, my heart.”

Quirkiest personality trait or action: Kris: “I snort when

I laugh — everybody knows that.”