Obituary of David A. Bird

David Bird was born August 4, 1933 in Cresco, Iowa to Arthur J. Bird and Katherine McHugh Bird. He graduated from Belle Plaine High School, attended Iowa State University, and entered the United States Air Force in March 1953. He was a Master Navigator with over 4000 hours of flying time in the B-47 and B-58 aircraft. In 1966, he became an intelligence officer and served in the intelligence and plans career fields until his retirement in 1973. During his military career he was awarded a Bronze Star. He then received a BS degree in Business Administration from LSU-Shreveport, and a subsequent MBA degree from Louisiana Tech University. He was active in many organizations, including the Air Force Association, the Military Officers of America and the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Posse. After his retirement he was employed by Bossier Medical Center, where he became the CEO until his retirement in July 1994. He then joined the staff of LSU Health Sciences Center in 1995, and continued to work there until his retirement in 2005. Mr. Bird was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Michael; and is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, LuAnn Holloway Bird; his children John Bird and his wife Sara; and Elizabeth Bird-Hazard and her husband Chip; and his grandchildren Kyle Bird, Linda Bird Green and husband Rustin and great-grand daughter Lorelei; and his sister Margaret Cimburek. David was very proud of his children, but not as proud as they are of him. The family would like to thank Dr. Anil Veluvolu and the staff at the Willis Knighton Cancer Center. Visitation will be held Friday, August 7, 2015 at St. Jude Catholic Church 9:00-10:00 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at 1:00 PM at Northwest Louisiana Veteran's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN.