In Loving Memory
Ronald Lee Bird of Knoxville, Tennessee
August 26, 1957 through June 27, 2025
Ronald Lee Bird was born on August 26, 1957, in Charleston, West Virginia, to the late Bertram Wayne Bird and Martha Elizabeth Wolfe. He leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and faith. On June 27, 2025, Ron slipped away from us after a short illness.
Ron is survived by his husband David Zimmerman; beloved son Justin Bird, Justin's mother Susan Baker, and stepfather Matt Baker; David's daughters Brianne Zimmerman Kerbyson (Kyler) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Brenna Zimmerman of Memphis, Tennessee.
His extended family includes his brother Randy Bird and wife Sharon of Richmond, Kentucky; nephew Marc Bird and wife Catina, and their son Kage Baker; nieces Mandy Otis (Jason) with children Isaac and Landon, and Shannon Smith (Seth) with daughters Alexandra and Adelynn.
He also leaves behind his dear mother-in-law, Marjorie "Momba" Zimmerman of Spring City, Tennessee; dear and devoted friends Ian and Revee Bailey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pete Osborne, Chico Osten, and Tony Ford of Knoxville, Tennessee; and devoted friends and neighbors Margie and John Dudeff and Cathy and Roland Edrada of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ron's life was enriched by devoted long time friendships beginning in St. Albans, West Virginia: Barbara Baxter, Debbie Hill Hodge, Libby Warner, Scott Wallace, Richard Kirtley, Alana Ellis Phillips, Tom Collins, and Jennifer Kiser Sisson. Devoted friends Pat King from Charleston, West Virgina; Carol Bolling Thompson, Versailles, Kentucky; Ina Peru and Patti Livesay Goodman of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ron was born to Bertram Wayne Bird, Martha Elizabeth Wolfe and big brother Randy on August 26, 1957 in Thomas Memorial Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. He lived with his parents and brother on Monroe Avenue in St. Albans, West Virginia. He attended Highlawn Elementary School, McKinley Junior High, and St. Albans High School. After high school graduation in 1975, Ron attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from Marshall in August of 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He married Susan J McReynolds in 1978, Justin was born in 1980. Ron was ordained a Deacon at St. Albans Highlawn Presbyterian Church in 1984. Ron, Susan, and Justin lived in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. He worked for West Virginia American Water Company from 1982 through 1991.
Ron and his family relocated to Knoxville in 1991. Ron and Justin soon became Vols for Life. In Knoxville, he worked for Calgon Corporation, Rho-Chem, and Staffing Solutions Technical Division. He then worked for Denso Manufacturing in Maryville and Athens and then Barge Waggoner and Resource Tech in Knoxville.
During his adult life Ron battled many serious and difficult medical conditions. He endured many hospitalizations and rehabilitations with strength, determination and hopefulness. It is not surprising to those of us that knew Ron, that it was not any of these medical issues that led to his passing. It was the caused by an accident, a fall resulting in traumatic brain injuries.
Ron was a shining optimist. He loved life and he always shared a smile and never stopped working to make others laugh. He was exceptionally clever and mischievously funny.
His journey was supported by incredible medical teams in Knoxville and Lexington, Kentucky. In Knoxville: Dr. Hollis Cotton, Dr. Mitchell D. Martin, Dr. Meridith Overholt, Dr. Robert Gathings, and the nurses at Fresenius Cedar Bluff. The compassionate care teams at the University of Kentucky Transplant Center including: Dr. Roberto Gedaly, Dr. Malay Shah, Dr. Anna Christina Delacruz Leyson, Hender Rojas APRN, Tonya Moline APRN, Macy Godman PA-C, Vanessa Greer, Transplant Coordinator; in Interventional Radiology Dr. Roberto Galuppo; in the Cardiothoracic unit Dr. Michael Sekala; in the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute Dr. John Gurley and RN Jimer Battaile; in the Nephrology Department Dr. Thomas Waid; and countless but equally important nurses, technicians, and staff members who stood by him through every procedure and recovery.
Throughout all the many surgeries, dialysis, and days of his life, Ron never stopped fighting. He was courageous. He remained smiling and positive and set the example for all of us living in difficult circumstances. He knew life is a gift, and he cherished it just like he did his husband, son, family, and friends. He is greatly missed. Ron's spirit and strength live on through all whose lives he touched.
A special thanks to all the friends, neighbors, caregivers, and family members who supported Ron with love and kindness throughout his life.
"Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day..."
Ronald Lee Bird of Knoxville, Tennessee
August 26, 1957 through June 27, 2025
Ronald Lee Bird was born on August 26, 1957, in Charleston, West Virginia, to the late Bertram Wayne Bird and Martha Elizabeth Wolfe. He leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and faith. On June 27, 2025, Ron slipped away from us after a short illness.
Ron is survived by his husband David Zimmerman; beloved son Justin Bird, Justin's mother Susan Baker, and stepfather Matt Baker; David's daughters Brianne Zimmerman Kerbyson (Kyler) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Brenna Zimmerman of Memphis, Tennessee.
His extended family includes his brother Randy Bird and wife Sharon of Richmond, Kentucky; nephew Marc Bird and wife Catina, and their son Kage Baker; nieces Mandy Otis (Jason) with children Isaac and Landon, and Shannon Smith (Seth) with daughters Alexandra and Adelynn.
He also leaves behind his dear mother-in-law, Marjorie "Momba" Zimmerman of Spring City, Tennessee; dear and devoted friends Ian and Revee Bailey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pete Osborne, Chico Osten, and Tony Ford of Knoxville, Tennessee; and devoted friends and neighbors Margie and John Dudeff and Cathy and Roland Edrada of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ron's life was enriched by devoted long time friendships beginning in St. Albans, West Virginia: Barbara Baxter, Debbie Hill Hodge, Libby Warner, Scott Wallace, Richard Kirtley, Alana Ellis Phillips, Tom Collins, and Jennifer Kiser Sisson. Devoted friends Pat King from Charleston, West Virgina; Carol Bolling Thompson, Versailles, Kentucky; Ina Peru and Patti Livesay Goodman of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ron was born to Bertram Wayne Bird, Martha Elizabeth Wolfe and big brother Randy on August 26, 1957 in Thomas Memorial Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. He lived with his parents and brother on Monroe Avenue in St. Albans, West Virginia. He attended Highlawn Elementary School, McKinley Junior High, and St. Albans High School. After high school graduation in 1975, Ron attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from Marshall in August of 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He married Susan J McReynolds in 1978, Justin was born in 1980. Ron was ordained a Deacon at St. Albans Highlawn Presbyterian Church in 1984. Ron, Susan, and Justin lived in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. He worked for West Virginia American Water Company from 1982 through 1991.
Ron and his family relocated to Knoxville in 1991. Ron and Justin soon became Vols for Life. In Knoxville, he worked for Calgon Corporation, Rho-Chem, and Staffing Solutions Technical Division. He then worked for Denso Manufacturing in Maryville and Athens and then Barge Waggoner and Resource Tech in Knoxville.
During his adult life Ron battled many serious and difficult medical conditions. He endured many hospitalizations and rehabilitations with strength, determination and hopefulness. It is not surprising to those of us that knew Ron, that it was not any of these medical issues that led to his passing. It was the caused by an accident, a fall resulting in traumatic brain injuries.
Ron was a shining optimist. He loved life and he always shared a smile and never stopped working to make others laugh. He was exceptionally clever and mischievously funny.
His journey was supported by incredible medical teams in Knoxville and Lexington, Kentucky. In Knoxville: Dr. Hollis Cotton, Dr. Mitchell D. Martin, Dr. Meridith Overholt, Dr. Robert Gathings, and the nurses at Fresenius Cedar Bluff. The compassionate care teams at the University of Kentucky Transplant Center including: Dr. Roberto Gedaly, Dr. Malay Shah, Dr. Anna Christina Delacruz Leyson, Hender Rojas APRN, Tonya Moline APRN, Macy Godman PA-C, Vanessa Greer, Transplant Coordinator; in Interventional Radiology Dr. Roberto Galuppo; in the Cardiothoracic unit Dr. Michael Sekala; in the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute Dr. John Gurley and RN Jimer Battaile; in the Nephrology Department Dr. Thomas Waid; and countless but equally important nurses, technicians, and staff members who stood by him through every procedure and recovery.
Throughout all the many surgeries, dialysis, and days of his life, Ron never stopped fighting. He was courageous. He remained smiling and positive and set the example for all of us living in difficult circumstances. He knew life is a gift, and he cherished it just like he did his husband, son, family, and friends. He is greatly missed. Ron's spirit and strength live on through all whose lives he touched.
A special thanks to all the friends, neighbors, caregivers, and family members who supported Ron with love and kindness throughout his life.
"Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day..."
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