Harry Gibbs Bird, age 94, died at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul, Kansas on Thursday, July 10, 2014.
Born in Normal, Illinois on December 5, 1919, Harry was the youngest child of Isabelle Gibbs Bird and Herbert C. Bird. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1939. At the advice of his father to avoid the infantry, he enlisted in the Army in October 1940. Harry served in World War II in the China-Burma Theater with the 14th Air Force (better known as The Flying Tigers) until his honorable discharge in September 1945.
Harry married Maxie Lee Chambers in October 1945. His career as a telegrapher with the Santa Fe Railroad took him and Maxie to Emporia, Kansas where they settled and raised two sons, David G. and Gary Allen. He retired from the Santa Fe Railroad in 1980 to spend his days playing golf both in Kansas and Arizona where he made his winter home.
Harry’s passion for the game of golf was sparked when he began caddying at Maplewood Country Club in 1935. He went on to become caddy master at Lakeside Country Club in 1940. He often told the story of how he lost his job as a caddy for being caught playing when he ought to have been working. On November 2, 1980, Harry hit his first of two hole-in-ones, the second occurring 26 years later at the age of 86.
A lover of music and song, Harry was a member of a barbershop quartet, “The Happy Dischords.” His sweet tenor was loved by many, especially his children and grandchildren. Harry could always be called upon for a rousing rendition of “Twenty Froggies.”
After more than 50 years of marriage, Maxie Lee passed away. After her passing Harry married Eleda Doub in October 1999. They were married until her death in December of 2013.
Harry is survived by his son David (Gail) of Mesa, Arizona; son Gary (Anna) of Geneva, Switzerland; granddaughter Caryn; grandsons Nicolo’ and Gabriel; stepdaughter Jeanette Harris (David) of Erie, Kansas; stepson John Doub (Judy) of Wichita, Kansas; and “adopted daughter” Jane Ann Weber (Wayne) of Marion, Kansas.
Services will be held on 10 A.M. Monday, July 21, 2014 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church; 828 Commercial Street; Emporia, Kansas 66801. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors by Ball-McColm Post 5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Ball-McColm Post 5 of the American Legion, Lowry-Funston Post 1980 of the VFW, or Prairie Mission Retirement Village, and sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harry Gibbs Bird, please visit our flower store.
Born in Normal, Illinois on December 5, 1919, Harry was the youngest child of Isabelle Gibbs Bird and Herbert C. Bird. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1939. At the advice of his father to avoid the infantry, he enlisted in the Army in October 1940. Harry served in World War II in the China-Burma Theater with the 14th Air Force (better known as The Flying Tigers) until his honorable discharge in September 1945.
Harry married Maxie Lee Chambers in October 1945. His career as a telegrapher with the Santa Fe Railroad took him and Maxie to Emporia, Kansas where they settled and raised two sons, David G. and Gary Allen. He retired from the Santa Fe Railroad in 1980 to spend his days playing golf both in Kansas and Arizona where he made his winter home.
Harry’s passion for the game of golf was sparked when he began caddying at Maplewood Country Club in 1935. He went on to become caddy master at Lakeside Country Club in 1940. He often told the story of how he lost his job as a caddy for being caught playing when he ought to have been working. On November 2, 1980, Harry hit his first of two hole-in-ones, the second occurring 26 years later at the age of 86.
A lover of music and song, Harry was a member of a barbershop quartet, “The Happy Dischords.” His sweet tenor was loved by many, especially his children and grandchildren. Harry could always be called upon for a rousing rendition of “Twenty Froggies.”
After more than 50 years of marriage, Maxie Lee passed away. After her passing Harry married Eleda Doub in October 1999. They were married until her death in December of 2013.
Harry is survived by his son David (Gail) of Mesa, Arizona; son Gary (Anna) of Geneva, Switzerland; granddaughter Caryn; grandsons Nicolo’ and Gabriel; stepdaughter Jeanette Harris (David) of Erie, Kansas; stepson John Doub (Judy) of Wichita, Kansas; and “adopted daughter” Jane Ann Weber (Wayne) of Marion, Kansas.
Services will be held on 10 A.M. Monday, July 21, 2014 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church; 828 Commercial Street; Emporia, Kansas 66801. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors by Ball-McColm Post 5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Ball-McColm Post 5 of the American Legion, Lowry-Funston Post 1980 of the VFW, or Prairie Mission Retirement Village, and sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harry Gibbs Bird, please visit our flower store.
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