Lawrence Bird was always ready to pitch in and help, whether it was scouts, the church, or later, Optimus Club. He was a driving force in his family and the community. Born January 28, 1922, Bob was the only surviving child of Hazel Lorinda (Harter) and Lawrence Earl Bird.

Bob grew up in south central Nebraska around Hastings and had a difficult childhood. His father left town and his mother died unexpectedly when he was 2. Bobby was then raised during the Great Depression by his soon widowed maternal grandmother. After graduating from high school in 1941, he joined the Federal Youth Corps, where he learned to make radios and other electronic listening equipment. He went on to study radar, joined the Army Reserves, got a security clearance and went to South Carolina for training in the Signal Corps. In 1944, Bob served in Europe as a Tec 4, and as he once said, “in the 20/40 Club,” which meant he eared $20 per week for 40 weeks.

After WWII he worked at a grain elevator and used the GI Bill to put himself through Hastings College, and managed to graduate summa cum lade in just three years.

In 1947 Bob married Virginia Margaret Brabham of Palisade, Nebraska. Bob and Virginia had two sons in Hastings, then in 1950 moved the family to Lincoln, Nebraska to pursue a Master’s Degree in Math at the University of Nebraska. Not long after arriving in Lincoln, Bob accepted and moved to his career job at Boeing, Wichita, Kansas. Bob, known for his capacity for hard work, thrived at Boeing. Also working hard at home, he personally built an add-on to their modest house to make room for a growing family and to take in his aging grandmother Harter.

A strong Methodist Christian, Bob and family were always active in the local church. A third son, Gary Wayne Bird, was born, but sadly, Gary died of leukemia at age four. Steven, the fourth son, arrived and soon thereafter came a new family adventure.

In 1962 Boeing needed skilled radar engineers and Bob was offered a position at the development headquarters, Seattle, Washington. He gathered his wife, two older boys and newly born son, and moved to a new culture in the Pacific Northwest. Bob continued to work for Boeing in research and development until he retired in 1984, completing a 34-year career with Boeing.

Upon retirement Bob immediately joined the Optimist Club, where he and Virginia spent much time working in the community. The couple enjoyed a long, secure retirement together traveling in their fifth wheel trailer to rock and craft shows. A passionate rockhound, Bob sold beautiful rock/gem clocks and jewelry crafted from his discoveries.

At the age of 91, Bob and Virginia moved into a comfortable apartment at Wesley Terrace, Des Moines, WA, where he remained until his death.

Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia; sons, Charles Bird (Jo Anne), Bruce Bird (Kelly Showalter) and Steve Bird (Jill Vaden); four grandchildren, Arwen Bird (Tanya Pluth), Sierra Nash Bird (Adam Nash Bird), Chad Bird (Jamie) and Christopher Bird (Stephanie Gryzmala Bird); and four great-grandchildren, Zachary Bird, Finnian Nash Bird, Aubrey Bird and Freyja Nash Bird.

Bob was a quiet, honest, contemplative man who supported and provided for his family and is greatly missed.

Interment will be Thursday, January 28, 2016, 11 a.m., at Tahoma National Cemetery; followed by memorial service, 2 p.m., at Des Moines Methodist Church. Please wear a bolo tie, perhaps one of the many he made, if you can. Remembrances may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Des Moines Methodist Church in Bob’s name.

Published in The Highline Times Section of The Westside Weekly January 22, 2016.