A. Dee Bird, 89

Alma DeeLee Bird, 89, of Stockton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018.  Born May 8, 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah he was the son of Alma Alonzo Bird and Zina May Furner Bird.

He is preceeded in death by his wife of 68 years, Virginia Jean Clawson Bird, his parents and his twin sister, Norma Lee Tracy.

Survivors include his seven children: David (Lynette) Bird, Allan (Diane) Bird, Michael (Donna) Bird, MayLynn (Bryan) Flake, Tim (Nadine) Bird, Jeanine (Bret) Parker, and Susan (Roy) Westra; 29 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.

His childhood was spent in Salt Lake City.  He graduated from Provo High School in 1947.  Dee attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  There he met and fell in love with his future wife, Virginia.  They were married in the Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints in June 1950.

He served in the Utah National Guard for two years, and was an artillery surveyor in the U.S. Army for two more years at the outbreak of the Korean War.

He earned two degrees from Brigham Young University, a Baccalaureate in 1955 and a Masters degree in 1959.

He moved with his wife and small family to Stockton in 1956, where they lived happily adding more children to their family.

Mr. Bird was a classroom teacher for four years in the Lincoln Unified School District, followed by 29 years as a school administrator. 27 of those years were spent as principal of Village Oaks school, which he regarded as a true labor of love.

After his retirement from the Lincoln District, he was an Adjunct Professor for 11 years at University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College.

Dee also wrote and published the book entitled: “Better Ways: Alternatives to No Child Left Behind.”

Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 at 11am (viewing at 10am), at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 7030 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton.  Interment will be at Cherokee Memorial Park, Harney Lane at Highway 99, Lodi.  Flowers may be sent to Donahue Funeral Home in Lodi.