William “Bill” J. Byrd passed away surrounded by his beloved family Thursday November 15, 2018. Bill, a graduate of Florida State University, was a retired resident of Jacksonville, Florida for the past 44 years. Bill was born in Crestview, Florida on July 19, 1942 to Harold and Laura Byrd. As an Air Force “brat”, Bill lived multiple places and later met the love of his life in Fort Walton Beach, Florida in 1961. At the age of 22, Bill married his next door neighbor Derinda, and they recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. Bill was a devoted husband, one of a kind father, and the best PawPaw. Bill loved unconditionally, taught many life lessons, shared vast knowledge and wisdom, and told many stories of his past…whether true or not.
Bill had many hobbies and interests, including all sports, coaching baseball and softball teams for his children, playing many hands of poker and Texas Hold’em, to being a cheerleader for his granddaughter at beauty pageants to scrapbooking his grandsons love of hunting and fishing. Bill was an FSU fan, a trophy winning bass fisherman and a car enthusiast. He was a member of multiple car clubs and currently served as the Vice-President of the Early Birds (LT-Birds) of Northeast Florida. Bill’s most recent accomplishment was winning the Crescent Award with his 1966 Sunbeam Tiger at the Hilton Head d’Elegance in South Carolina.
Bill is preceded in death by his son Trevor M. Byrd, and is survived by his loving wife Derinda S. Byrd, daughter Terese B. Cather, best friend and son-in-law Jason Cather, and cherished grandchildren Kallie and Dalton English, all of Jacksonville Florida.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2pm Sunday November 25, 2018 at Hardage Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville Florida 32207, followed by a reception for family and friends.
Please sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com
HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd. is serving the family
