Glenn Howard Byrd

Glenn attended the University of Maryland and served in the U.S. Army Reserve for six years. He went on to build a distinguished career as a systems engineer with IBM and Boeing, where he contributed to some of the nation’s most ambitious engineering achievements; including the Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station. He brought the same sharp mind and quiet curiosity to his work that he brought to everything else that he touched in this life. Those that knew him remember him as brilliant yet remarkably easy to talk to, a natural listener who made people feel heard.

He had a gift for making things with his hands and spent many happy years on the golf course with friends and family. He was a family man and loved his children and grandchildren.

Glenn is survived by his wife Dawn Byrd; his stepson Brandon Gatewood; and stepgranddaughter Eiley Gatewood. He is also survived by his two daughters Michelle, along with her husband and their two children, and Kelli (George) Melendez, and their two children Julian and Gabriel. He is further survived by his brothers John (Mary) Byrd, Brian (Rose) Byrd, and sister Beverly (Steve) McCauley. He was preceded in death by his parents Rhoda M. (Finzel) Byrd and John D. Byrd, and first wife Nancy (Morgan) Byrd who passed away last year.

A celebration of life will be held in Frostburg, Maryland at a later date. He will be interred at Frostburg Memorial Park, along side his parents.

Glenn will be remembered for his intellect, his warmth, his kindness to others and his rare gift of making you feel like you were the only person in the room - a man who made an impact on the world's biggest engineering feats and on the people who simply sat and talked with him.