BIRD, Donald Johnson, 90, passed away on 14th September in Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building, Halifax. He was previously at Cedarstone Enhanced Care and Purdy Drive, Truro.
Born on 7th July,1920 in Southampton, Cumberland County, he was the son of the late Lew Bransby and Viola Abbey (Smith) Bird, formerly of Amherst(The Birds Nest).
He was predeceased in 2000 by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth Brown, of Belfast, N.Ireland, and also by his sister, Mora Lavoie of Truro in 2004.
He will be sadly missed by his only daughter, Erin Viola(Charles)Henderson, two grandsons, Guy Edward(Alison) and Ian Donald(Alexandra) Henderson and four great grand children, George, Maxwell, Edward, and Katie, all of England.
He is also survived by his sister, Ruth(Ken) MacKay of Columbus, Ohio, nephews, a niece, and many cousins.
Don received his early education in Amherst and then attended Mount Allison University, class of '41. After four years military service he attended N.S. Technical College, class of '48, where he obtained his B.E. in civil engineering.
Enlisting in 1942 in the Royal Navy he was commissioned as "The first Canadian Naval Aviation Engineering Officer" in the Fleet Air Arm and served in the UK and Yarmouth and returned from Britain on Canada's first aircraft carrier, HMCS Warrior.
After graduation in in 1948 he began a career of 37 years in the service of local and Provincial Governments in Amherst, Halifax, Boston, Belfast, Fredericton, and Truro, and was appointed the first director of community planning for Nova Scotia in 1957.
After retirement he had much more time to spend on his many investigative interests and his great love - woodworking. He was particularly interested in making tables, chairs and church furniture. His Bishops (Glastonbury) chairs are scattered world wide and two are in pride of place at Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Don loved nothing more than to get his teeth into an interesting thought provoking project - Round towers of Ireland, tidal and wind power, dolmans, early explorers and religions.
He and his wife were members of St. Andrews United Church, Truro, and former members of St. Pauls United Church, Fredericton,Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, N. Ireland, Mulgrave Park Baptist Church, Halifax and Trinity United Church, Amherst.
A service of remembrance will take place at St. Andrews United Church, Truro, on Tuesday 21st September at 2 pm
No flowers please. Donations in memory of Donald may be made to the Colchester and East Hants Regional Library (Capital Campaign).