Clarence David Byrd

Clarence David Byrd was born Thursday, April 1, 1948 in San Antonio, Texas at 5:44 in the morning. He was the second child born to Clarence Byrd, Jr. and Frances Marie Daneph Byrd. He had three brothers, Raymond Dale Byrd, Lester Eugene Byrd and Elvin Kenneth Byrd and one sister, Carolyn Sue Byrd.

David grew to be a tall boy with blonde hair and gray-blue eyes. He was a very intelligent person. Although he did not enjoy school much, he always got an A in art class. He was a tough young man who was respected in the rough neighborhood that he grew up in. His brother Les used to say that having David as an older brother definitely saved him from being beat up a time or two.

David grew up working in his family's auto repair business and quickly became skilled at working on cars. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High school in 1966. David joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968. His service was brief due to a medical issue. He received an Honorable Discharge as well as the National Defense Service Medal.

David met the love of his life, Roxana Lea Parchman (a brown eyed beauty from Somerset, Texas), in 1970. They were married the following year on March 24, 1971 in the Bahamas. The union produced the couple's two children. First, a daughter (with brown eyes like her mother) Joline Roxan Byrd, who arrived Wednesday, February 6, 1974. Then a son, David Wren Byrd (who has his father's light colored eyes) born Sunday, December 28, 1975.

David was a man of many talents. He earned a degree in art and drafting in 1972. He was a gifted artist. He worked illustrating for the San Antonio Light's newspaper. He passed on his love of art to his daughter Joline. One of his daughter's favorite paintings is one David sketched and painted of her as an infant crawling into a laundry basket. He taught his daughter to draw, sketch and paint. He displayed several pieces of his daughter's artwork in his home. He was very proud of the common gift they shared.

During his career, David worked at Dr. Pepper and Big Red Bottling Company. He worked his way up from a delivery driver, earning his CDL to Distribution Manager overseeing operations throughout the greater part of his home state of Texas. He loved to bring home various new sodas for his children to enjoy.

David was a disciplined, motivated man. He was mostly self-taught and received some help from his father-in-law when he and Roxana built the family home that they shared for many years until their divorce.

In later years, David started his own business: Dave's Painting and Drywall Repair. It was here that he was able to pass on his skills and talent to his son. 'The Great CD' as his son likes to call him, was always so proud of his son. He grew up much like his father; tall, blonde, intelligent and respected. Following in his father's footsteps, his son also had an entrepreneurial spirit. His son's business, SA Painting, lives on to honor the gifts he learned from David.

David loved the outdoors; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping on the beach. He and his son took many hunting and fishing trips together. He also taught his oldest grandson, Garrett, to fish when he was very young. David also loved to watch action movies; especially ones about the military. He had a wonderful sharp sense of humor. More than anything, David loved his children and grandchildren.

David passed away on July 4, 2017 at 6:06pm, gaining his freedom from his failing health on Independence Day. He is survived by his brothers Ray and Kenneth, his daughter Joline Byrd Lowe, her sons Garrett Carter Newman and Garner Ryan Newman, his son David Wren Byrd and his daughter Michael Rose Byrd and twin sons Atlas Wren Byrd and Levi Miles Byrd. Although his life on Earth is complete, his legacy lives on through his family who love him.

SERVICE

TUESDAY

JULY 11, 2017

1:00 P.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL