Webster Gray Byrd

Webster was born in Ayden, NC to Arthur Lee and Magdalene (Williams) Byrd. He was the 2nd oldest of 7 children. Life was hard for the area’s many tenant farmers in the 30’s, so they helped each other get the crops in and found extra work when they could. Web grew up becoming an all-around handy-man like his dad. You never threw anything away!

He graduated from Ayden High School in 1951 where boys, if they maintained a good driving record and grades, could drive the school bus which they parked at their homes. He earned $10 a month which he gave to his parents. His mother would go out early to pick up the soft shelled pecans that had fallen in the driveway before Web drove the bus out. These were sold. Web also worked at a restaurant that featured wood cooked BBQ pork from an outdoor fire pit. There is nothing else like it!

Web grew up with a Pentecostal back-ground and loved playing guitar and singing the old Gospel hymns. He once sang on the radio with his brother Ben.

Shortly after graduation, Web was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After Basic Training, he was sent to Richland, WA. He was trained in Radar Operations and was sent to Kirkland WA to a radar base across the lake from Fort Lawton, a support for the Nike missile sites in the area. He claimed it rained for 6 month straight and he never really got warm again. Web volunteered to go to Korea, but at that time, the Peace Talks were under way and very few soldiers were being sent.

Web and Linnie met at a Labor Day Country Dance in Issaquah, WA. He won her heart when he was able to fix her 42’Plymouth coupe, which ran for several more years. He didn’t smoke, use bad language, and wasn’t afraid of hard work –A Real Keeper!

After being discharged from the Army in April 1955, he returned to NC for 6 months where he found work in construction. Web and Linnie continued to correspond. She sent him the Boeing Employment Ads and Web decided that maybe Washington wasn’t so bad after all. He returned in Oct. and was hired at Boeing Renton, “Bucking Rivets” He eventually worked at every plant in the area, much of it on second shift.

Web and Linnie were married Nov. 25th 1955. He joined Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in 1956. He enjoyed helping with many on-going projects and operating the Sound Room. He served as an Elder on the Building and Grounds Committee.

He took multiple courses offered by Boeing at various Technical Schools and 3 quarters at U of W. The last few years of his 35 at Boeing were as a Shop Math and Tooling Procedures Instructor. He was always happy to help friends and neighbors fix things.

He was a long time member of the Woodmen of the World/Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society a family fraternity. He held many of the offices and earned several awards. The Woodmen donated the Christian and American flags in our sanctuary after the fire.

Web is preceded in death by an infant sister, Nettie, brothers Benjamin, Melvyn and Rayvon.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linnie (Stinson), Daughter, Loralee Hoffman (Daryl), Son, W. Scott Byrd (Julie) granddaughter Rachelle Lorance (Christopher), and Grandsons, Bradley Hoffman, and Lee, Tyler and Jacob Byrd.

He is also survived by his sister Carol Clark and Brother Wayne (Kay) Byrd, both of Ayden NC.

“Well Done, Thou good and faithful Servant …….”

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Bellevue, WA.