Ronald Lynn Bird

Ron was called home by the Lord on October 3, 2022. He was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on March 15, 1943. His parents were Henry and Gladys Bird. Ron graduated from Goodrich Senior High School in 1960 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence University in 1965. He married his high school sweetheart Maureen Mary McKelvie in 1963 and remained happily married to her for 59 years.

After graduating from college, he joined the Air Force as a Lieutenant in 1966 and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He attained the rank of Captain and left the Air Force in 1970 and took a job as a civil engineer with the Air Force in the Aeronautical Systems Division. Over his thirty-year career, he worked on numerous programs in the defensive avionics area. His area of expertise was the infrared warning receivers. His most favorable memories of his years of work were with the great people he worked alongside forming life-long friendships.

Ron was an active member of Holy Trinity Church supporting social action programs for many years. He enjoyed sports and played softball for many years and tennis up until recently. He enjoyed attending the University of Dayton basketball games, Dayton Dragons baseball games, Ohio State football games and he was a life-long fan of the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his grandson William.

Ron was preceded by death by his loving wife Maureen, his son William (Billy), his parents Henry and Gladys, and his brothers Gary and Mark. He is survived by his daughter Susan and her husband Doug and their children William and Kathrine, sister Linda Coursen (Barry), sister Vicki Evans and her husband Jeff, sister-in-law Susan Bird (Gary), and sister-in-law Barb Bird (Mark), sister-in-law Kathleen Kohlman and her husband Terry and brother-in-law James McKelvie and his wife Jennifer.

Ron volunteered much of his time and provided financial support to many charities during his life. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Dayton Chapter of Saint Vincent DePaul at 124 W. Apple Street, Dayton, OH 45402, where Ron was a volunteer for over a decade.

Ron was a loving and thoughtful husband, father, Pa, son, brother, and friend who will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

Funeral arrangements by Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429. Visitation Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 5pm-7pm. Mass of Christian Burial at 10am Thursday, October 20, 2022, Holy Trinity Catholic Church 272 Bainbridge St. Dayton, OH 45402. Burial at Woodland Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tobias-funeral.com for the Bird family.