Robert G. Bird Sr.

Robert G. Bird Sr. Clifton Springs - Robert G. Bird Sr., age 76, died on Wednesday March 17, 2010, at Rochester General Hospital. Friends may call Sunday, March 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Cheney Funeral Home, 70 Main St., Phelps. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church, 1 E. Main St., Clifton Springs. A Masonic service will be held to begin the service. Military honors will be bestowed at the end. Private burial will be in Port Gibson Cemetery. Bob was born on Nov. 30, 1933 in Clifton Springs and was the son of the late Harold J. and Doris Schanz Bird. He retired in August, 1996 from G.W. Lisk in Clifton Springs, after many years of service. Bob was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of Phelps American Legion Seeley B. Parrish Post 457. Bob was also a member of Clifton Springs United Methodist Church and past member of Clifton Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Bob was very active in the Free and Accepted Masons. He was a past secretary and past master of Garoga Lodge 300. He was the first master of Sincerity-Garoga Lodge 200. Bob was a past district deputy grand master of O-S-Y District and past secretary and life member of O-S-Y Charities Corp. He was also a member of Royal Arch Masons Chapter 36 in Geneva. Bob received the Wendall K. Walker Medal in October, 1995. He was one of the first recipients of this award, for his "Builder of Men Leadership." Bob was also a leader in the O-S-Y District for past grand lodge officers. In 1987, Bob received a Masonic award for "Man of the Year." He was very involved in his community and volunteered for many local organizations. It is suggested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Garoga-Sincerity Lodge 200, c/o Bob Ruggles, 1348 Griffith Road, Phelps, NY 14532; or United Methodist Church, 1 E. Main St., Clifton Springs, NY 14432. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Marilyn Bird; children, Mary Ellen Callaway of Phelps, Joan Bird of Clifton Springs, Patricia Bird of Webster, Robert (Lynette) Bird Jr. of Federal Way, Wash.; Richard Bird of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Kate (Hal) Busby of Canandaigua, Janet Bird of Irondequoit, Charlie (Kelly) Bird of Clarence, N.Y. and Shirley (Todd) Brown of Rushville; seven grandchildren that were very special to grandpa, Jennifer, Tyler, Samantha, Jacob, Meghan, Sarah and Rachel; two sisters, Hildreth Roll of Clifton Springs and Betty (William) Steele of Waterloo; brother, J. Richard (Kathy) Bird of Olathe, Kan.; sister-in-law, Mary Bird of Clifton Springs; two brothers-in-law, Wendall Gray of Canandaigua and Richard (Helena) Saxman of Williamson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by a son Roger; grandson, Nathaniel; brothers, Otis, John, Edward and William Bird; and sisters, Barbara Gray and Mary Bolich.