THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 15, 1996 TAG: 9606150297
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: 41 lines
Robert King Byard left on his final voyage June 14, 1996. This time there was no Navy band playing ``Anchors Aweigh'' but, as in all of his deployments, bidding him farewell was his sweetheart Dorothy who was his wife of 59 years, and his beloved daughter, Connie Hindmarsh.
After spending his boyhood as a farmer in Huntsville, Ala., where he was born in 1910, Bob joined the U.S. Navy in 1928. There he proudly served his country for 30 years. He rose from a sailor to an officer, fought in two wars, World War II and Korea, and sailed around the world several times on the USS Ships Saratoga, Biddle, Vincennes, Mankato, Chemung and Valley Forge CV3.
Upon retiring from the Navy in 1958, Bob attended the College of William and Mary in Norfolk, where he studied electronics. He worked as an electronic engineer in Northern Virginia for 20 years. As a mason, he served as worshipful master and district deputy grand master of John Blair Lodge, Alexandria, Va. He was a member of the Scottish Rite. As a shriner in Kena Temple, Alexandria, he served in the Legion of Honor and was adjutant ameritus. He and Dorothy worked tirelessly for the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital.
In his book, ``A Simplified Practical Grammar for the American Writer,'' Bob began, ``I was at one time a Mariner, Farmer, Teacher, Engineer and now a full time Grandfather.'' Mankind is better for Bob having lived.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Dorothy; his daughter and son-in-law, Connie Byard Hindmarsh and Bert Ross Hindmarsh; his beloved grandchildren and their husbands and wife, Dorothy and John Werner, Kelly and Peter Zink, Harry and Tiffany Hindmarsh; his sister, Sue Ella Manning and his friend, Edna Hindmarsh. He was predeceased by his only great-grandchild, John Ross Werner on November 12, 1995.
He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Everly Wheatly Funeral Home, Alexandria, is handling the arrangements. The family requests that memorial donations be sent to the Children's Hospital Transportation Fund, Kena Temple, P.O. Box 456, Merifield, Va., 22116, so that even in his death, mankind will continue to be enriched. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB