Rites held for Roy Byrd

Roy Byrd passed on August 3, 2024 at Atoka, Oklahoma. He was born in Centrahoma, Oklahoma on March 2, 1934 to Lee Roy and Ethel (Hill) Byrd.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, a brother, Troy Byrd, and a sister, Jo Byrd.

He is survived by his immediate family consisting of Roy’s wife, Glenda Graham-Byrd; daughters, Cheryl York, Kathy Parks, Tara Huddleston, Stacey Slawson and Marcy Terry; sons, Roger Byrd and Chris Graham; sister, Donna Boiles; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Roy was in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1960, serving in Korea and Vietnam aboard the aircraft carrier The U.S.S. Point Cruiz CVE 119. He attained the rank of Aviation Electrician’s Mate Second Class Petty Officer (AE2).

Byrd graduated from East Central University in 1959 and worked for Beech Aircraft as a Technical Representative and an Electronic Engineer for seven years, later he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Masters Degree in Technical Education and completed the work for a doctrine in Higher Education He was a retired Associate Professor and Faculty Emeritus from Cameron University, during his 25 year stay at Cameron he served as Assistant Dean of Academics, Chairman of the Department of Technology, and as an Instructor.

He served as State Membership Chairman for the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association and was a member of its Board of Directors for five years. During that time he authored a handbook containing the duties and responsibilities for Membership and Treasurer Chairperson of Local State Units.

Roy’s greatest honor was receiving the Joe Able’s award for being Oklahoma’s Most Outstanding Technical Educator. The award was presented by the Oklahoma Technical Society.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 7th, in the Brown’s Funeral Chapel, Atoka, with Dr. Terry Spradley officiating. Interment was in the Centrahoma Cemetery.

Assisting as casketbearers were Chris Graham, Hanks Huddleston, Braxton O’Brien, Nathan Byrd and Brian Kruzan. Honorary bearers were Boyd Newton, Wayne Bullard, Tom Sutherlin, Rick Shaber, Gale Jones, Clovis Roland and Jack Key.

Services were under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service, Atoka.