Samuel Bird

Samuel Bird, 92, of Matamoras died peacefully on June 16, 2017.  Mr. Bird was born in Irvington NJ on September 28, 1924 to the late Samuel and Harriet Palmer Bird. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary and two sisters, Laura Skellenger and Joan Rush. He is survived by his daughter Pamela and husband Herman Schaefer of Matamoras, with whom he resided, daughter Linda and husband William O'Hara of Hawley, daughter Debra and husband Francis Miro of Dallas TX, grandson Remy, sister Sharon and husband Anthony Perna of Middletown NY, nephew Andrew and wife Linda Skellenger, niece Rebecca and husband Brian O'Connell and several grand nieces and grand nephews.  He is also survived by his beloved cat Eli, who misses him dearly.

Mr. Bird lived most of his life in this area after moving to Beemerville NJ with his family when he was 6. He had a variety of jobs and businesses over the years, all centering on his love of plants.  He built greenhouses early in his career and raised and sold plants both retail and wholesale.   He later owned a soil plant and did landscaping well into his eighties.

One of his proudest achievements was that he enlisted in WWII and served in the Army Air Corps, Eighth Air Force, 381 Bombardment Group.  He was trained in airplane mechanics, stationed in England and flew missions over occupied Europe as a ball turret and tail gunner, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Sam's love of nature and gardening will live on through his family. Dad, we will miss you dearly.

Friends may call at Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford, PA on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 from 6 to 8 PM and on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 from 10 to 11 AM. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 20, 2017 at 11 AM. Burial will follow in Beemerville Cemetery, Wantage Township, NJ with Military Honors

Memorial donations may be made to the Pike County Humane Society, PO Box 255, Milford, PA 18337.