- Date Of Birth: May 21, 1948
- Date Of Death: May 12, 2021
- State: Oklahoma
Richard Bruce Byrd, son of the late Lyndall Rae Byrd and Avis Bradshaw Byrd was born May 21, 1948 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the 4th generation of the Byrd family in Carter County. His great-grandfather, F.M. Byrd arrived in Lone Grove, Indian Territory in 1886. Bruce an Ardmore High School graduate, the class of 1966, also attended Murray State College and Oklahoma State University. He then began his career in banking and finance. A Vice-President of the Exchange National Bank of Ardmore for most of his career he retired from First Texoma Bank of Durant as a Vice-President in 2014. Bruce departed this life on May 12, 2021 at age of 72 years, 11 months and 21 days at Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Bruce was raised in the First Presbyterian Church in Ardmore where his mother, Avis Byrd was the choir director and a deacon. An avid hunter he trained Labrador retrievers for field trial competitions. His love of hunting brought him to supporting local land conservation efforts and serving as treasurer of the regional Ducks Unlimited affiliate. He was also a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast which began just out of high school when racing his BSA Victor around flat tracks in southern Oklahoma.
He is survived by his son, Dr. Scott Byrd and wife Dr. Patricia Long of Waldoboro, Maine.; his two sisters, Madelon Byrd Croskell of Ardmore and Lynda Byrd Sharrett of Williamsburg, Virginia; also three nieces; Amanda and Mel Amodo and grand-niece Bailey Byrd Amodo; Jessica and Rich Coleman and grand-niece Kylee Briscoe Coleman and grand-nephew Austin Bradshaw Coleman; and Dana Lee Duke and husband Anthony.
