Robert Bird

Robert Donald Bird, age 94 of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma passed away Friday, February 10, 2023 at his home in Broken Arrow.

Celebration of Life Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the Tahlequah City Cemetery with Andrea Stephens officiating under the direction of the Hart Funeral Home.

Visitation hours will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the Hart Funeral Home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Robert was born on November 21, 1928 in Higgins, Texas to Milo and Barbara (Davis) Bird. He grew up in the Pampa, Texas area and attended high school in Pampa. On January 1, 1946 Robert entered the United States Navy and served for 3 years, 9 months, and 24 days as an Electricians Mate third class.  He served aboard two aircraft carriers.  The first was USS Saidor CVE 117 where he participated in “ Operation Crossroads” atom bomb tests in the Pacific at Bikini Atol in July 1946, and the second was USS Siboney CVE 112 for three years of regular duty.

On August 4, 1961 Robert married Jo Carol Rochelle in Canadian, Texas. Robert worked as an Electrician for Magnolia Pipeline and later as an Electrical Supervisor for Mobil. Working for Mobil meant moving anywhere the job took him.  The couple lived in Pampa then Eastland then Wichita Falls, all in Texas.  When Robert got his big promotion to Electrical Supervisor, they moved to Guymon, Oklahoma where he spent the longest time from 1973 until 1984.  Near the end of his career, Robert and Carol made their final move to Yukon, Oklahoma where they lived for over 35 years. Robert retired on May 5, 1990, and the couple began the next chapter of their lives, spending a lot of time in their Hitch Hiker RV at Tenkiller Lake. He loved to crappie fish at Tenkiller and to do woodworking projects, making furniture and different types of bowls.

Survivors include his wife Jo Carol of the home; children Luana Taylor, Linda Edwards (husband Michael), Robert (Bobby) D. Bird Jr (wife Terre), Janey Walls (husband Jerry) and Molly Breshears; 12 grandchildren Eugene (Todd), Allison, Ashley, Eric, Julie, Derrell, Shannon, Meghann, Stephanie, Justin, Kiel, and Rachelle; one sister Mary Evans and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three sisters Sarah Eleanor Bird Thompson, Barbara Joanne Bird Brandt, Margaret Frances Bird; two brothers Milo William Bird and Walker Bird; and one son William (Billy) Bird.