Iris (Girton) Bird

Iris (Girton) Bird, age 94, of 509 Grove Avenue, Catawissa, Died 02-13-2022.  Born in West Hemlock Twp. Danville, PA on Saturday, May 7^th, 1927.  She was the daughter of the late J. Earl and Erma (Miller) Girton.   She was a 1945 graduate of the Danville High School.  She had resided in the Bloomsburg area from 1946 until 1990 then moving to Catawissa.

Iris worked at several defense plants during the Second World War, KVS – Danville, Westinghouse – Sunbury and Crucible Steel – Harrison, NJ where she was a currier from NJ to the Chrysler Building in NYC via tube train.  After her high school graduation, she worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. and for Fred Bird Garage.  She also enjoyed being a salesperson and was active with Tupperware Parties and being an Amway Distributor.

Iris was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church (her church family) since 1954.  She was a member of the Tah Gah Jute Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, through her Dietrick (German) Heritage.  She was a member of the Junior Women’s Civic Club which became the Espy Civic Club and served on the Espy Park board and the Scott Twp. Sewer Authority until moving to Catawissa in 1990.

Her volunteer work included Easter Eggs fundraising for the church, AARP Apprise Program, Columbia Montour Area Agency Board, Coordinator for AARP Drivers Course, Church Key Woman Susquehanna University, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital Auxiliary since 1972, awarded the North Star Award and Stuffers Group Coordinator.

Iris’ joy in her life were the family celebrations and her church families.  She and her husband Fred celebrated 50 years of marriage before his death, September 11^th, 1996.  Iris had one sister, Jean Miller, also deceased.

Surviving are sons, Fred W. Bird, wife Kay, Frederica, DE; John E. Bird, wife Svetlana, West Chester, PA; Jere A. Bird, husband Robert, Tampa, FL; and daughter Lori Jean Bird Ash, son Joshua, Bloomsburg.  Seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; Brian, wife Jackie, sons Jake and Josh, Melrose, MA; Mark, wife Monica, sons Mason and Maddax, Milford, DE; Jaredd, wife Leslie, daughters Jordana and Victoria Iris, Yardville, NJ; Alisha, companion Allen and son Braxton, Steelton, PA and grandson Joshua Ash; Ashley Leach, husband Leonard, daughter Lena, Springfield, PA; Alexandra Becker, husband Jeffery, Philadelphia, PA; grandson-in-law Alexsei Petrov, wife Zhanna, son Pavel (Paul), daughter Varvava (Barbara), Moscow, Russia. Person like a grandson, Matthew Deg Brina.

Deceased family members were, husband Fred, sister Jean Miller and son W. Raymond Ash.  No flower arrangements, any contributions may be given to St. John Lutheran Church, 2575 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or Area Agency on Aging, 702 Sawmill Road, Suite 201, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. 

Memorial Service will be held May 7^th, 2022 at 11 AM,  graveside at Elan Memorial Cemetery, Bloomsburg, PA followed immediately by a Celebration of Life at St. John Lutheran Church, 2575 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored  to serve the Bird Family.  For online condolences, please visit our website:  www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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