Col (Ret). David Owen Bird, of New Market, N.H., passed away on July 7th, 2024. He was born on March 11, 1945, in Winchester, Massachusetts, and lived a life of outstanding service to his country and strong dedication to his family.
David is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Cheryl Bird, and their three children: Elizabeth, Marnie, and David Jr. He was a loving grandfather to Lenora and cherished by all who met him. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
A 1963 graduate of Winchester High School, David continued his education at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he earned a BA in History in 1967. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army on June 3, 1967.
He served 27 years in the Army, with a year in the Marine Corps, taking part in vital periods such as the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf War. His courage and leadership earned him many awards for distinguished service.
David’s military education was comprehensive. It included Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA, the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, DC. He also obtained an MS in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1980 and attended the Executive Development Course at the Whittemore School of Business, University of New Hampshire, in 1992.
In his retirement he could be found riding his lawn mower around the neighborhood or in his garage building toy train chests for family and friends.
His contributions to his country continued well beyond his military retirement. David Owen Bird’s legacy is one of honor, duty, and steadfast love for his family and country. He will be sorely missed and always remembered.
A service to honor David’s life with full military honors will take place on July 16th at 3 p.m. in the NH State Veteran’s Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, New Hampshire. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of one’s choice, reflecting David’s lifelong commitment to service and community.
Rest in peace, David. Your life and service have made a lasting difference to us all.