Billie Ruth Bettess Bird was born on May 12, 1938 and passed away peacefully on April 4, 2021. She is survived by her daughters, Laura Wallace (Steve), Laynie Bird-Schlachter (Jim) and Lisa Powell (Steve) and her grandchildren, Bruce Dunbar, Stephen Dunbar, Jessica Powell and Matthew Powell. She is also survived by her beloved Goffin’s cockatoo, Swayze, who was her faithful companion for the past 29 years.
Billie Ruth was born in Tulsa, OK and moved to Atlanta when she was three years old. She grew up in Morningside and graduated from Grady High School in 1952. Billie Ruth attended the University of Tennessee for two years where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She returned to Atlanta to attend Emory University and to marry her high school sweetheart, George Tyler Bird, Jr. She graduated from Emory with a degree in biology and went on to work for the CDC as a microbiologist for over 40 years.
Billie Ruth was an avid bridge player. She played marathons, social bridge, duplicate and became a Gold Life Master. She took bridge cruises and went on yearly trips to Garden City to play bridge with friends by the beach. Whether she was playing socially with neighbors and friends or competitively in tournaments, she just loved playing. She passed along that love of the game by teaching others to play.
Billie Ruth enjoyed traveling and exploring new places. She had many amazing adventures during her life including rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon twice. Her travels took her to Costa Rica, Greece, South Africa, Australia, Rome, Paris, London, Hong Kong and Beijing just to name a few.
Billie Ruth loved living in Georgia. She loved going to Callaway Gardens, spending time on Cumberland Island and taking in the theatre at the Fox. She enjoyed cheering on the local sports teams including the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Falcons and most recently, Atlanta United.
Billie Ruth’s mother, Ruth Margaret Barr Bettess, was a Rosie the Riveter and worked in a factory during World War II. Billie Ruth, a Rosebud, was instrumental in setting up the first Rosie the Riveter chapter in Atlanta.
Billie Ruth’s guilty pleasures included MKO dogs at The Varsity, a shot of scotch with one ice cube, Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze, anything with Hugh Jackman, the music of Chris Botti, Game Show Network, American Ninja Warriors, watching tennis and a glass (or two) of bubbly at the holidays.
Private funeral services will be held. A celebration of life service for Billie Ruth will be available online via the H.M Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel website. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Billie Ruth’s memory either to Eagle Ranch or Shallowford Presbyterian Church.
