Richard "Dick" Bird

Richard W. "Dick" Bird, 80, of Eaton, died on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at the Centennial Health Care Center. He was born on July 10, 1926 in Bellefontaine, Ohio to Ralph and Lova (Hesse) Bird. Dick married Lillian V. Martin in 1951. He later married Margaret I. "Peggy" Stanley on January 11, 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She preceded him in death on January 8, 2002. In 1944 he graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, West Virginia and later attended technical college in Austin, Texas where he studied radio communications. Dick enjoyed playing the trumpet and in the 1940's he played in a dance band. Mr. Bird joined the U.S. Army at the end of WWII. He served from 1943 until 1953 in Newfoundland, Alaska, Arizona, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sgt. 1st Class. For 30 years he worked with his brother in law Bud Stanley at Stanley Commercial Radio Company which was purchased by Nextel Communications. He continued to work for Nextel until his retirement in the early 1990's. When Peggy was still alive they enjoyed traveling, reading and going to concerts. He was a past member of the Eaton Library Board and he was a Hamm radio operator. He was a member of Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club. He was licensed by the F.C.C. for amateur radio operators and his call sign was K0IRS. Survivors include 3 sons, Charles Bird and his wife Debi of Greeley, Steven "Radar" Eldridge of Eaton and Mike Eldridge and his wife Kathy of Gilbert Arizona; 2 daughters and their husbands, Jane & Jerry Winter of Eaton and Kristine and Shannon King of Ault; 8 grandchildren, Mitchell Bird of Greeley, Matthew Bird and Marc Bird both of Houston, TX, Steven Babb of Eaton, David King and Kevin King both of Ault, Heather Eldridge and Whitney Eldridge both of Gilbert, AZ; 4 great grandchildren; a brother and his wife, James and Chris Bird of Slidell, Louisiana; a sister, Martha Cutrer of Slidell, Louisiana; a brother in law and his wife, Bud and Dianna Stanley of Greeley and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Peggy Bird, he is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Martin R. Bird and a sister and brother in law, Polly and Harry Spence. A memorial service to celebrate Dick's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2006 at the First Christian Church, 2230 13th Street. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church or to the Eaton Public Library in care of Moser Funeral Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.

Tributes

Richard "Dick" Bird

July 10, 1926 - October 12, 2006