Roy Byrd

Funeral services for Roy Byrd were held Wednesday, (today) August 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Brown’s Funeral Chapel in Atoka with Dr. Terry Spradley officiating. Burial was in Centrahoma Cemetery with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.

Roy Byrd passed on August 3, 2024 at Atoka, OK. He was born in Centrahoma, OK on March 2, 1934 to Lee Roy and Ethel (Hill) Byrd. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, a brother, Troy Byrd, and a sister, Jo Byrd. He is survived by his immediate family consisting of Roy’s wife, Glenda Graham-Byrd; daughters, Cheryl York, Kathy Parks, Tara Huddleston, and Stacey Slawson; sons, Roger Byrd and Chris Graham; sister, Donna Boiles; along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Roy was in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1960, serving in Korea and Vietnam aboard the aircraft carrier The U.S.S. Point Cruiz CVE 119. He attained the rank of Aviation Electrician’s Mate Second Class Petty Officer (AE2).

Byrd graduated from East Central University in 1959 and worked for Beech Aircraft as a Technical Representative and an Electronic Engineer for 7 years, later he graduated from OklahomaStateUniversitywith a Masters Degree in Technical Education and completed the work for a doctrine in Higher Education Administration. Roy also graduated from the University of Illinois with an advanced degree in General Engineering Technology.

He was a retired Associate Professor and Faculty Emeritus from Cameron University, during his 25 year stay at Cameron he served as Assistant Dean of Academics, Chairman of the Department of Technology, and as an Instructor. Roy was Chairman of Technology for 17 years. He taught math, computer science, and electronics. He was instrumental in starting an Associate Degree in Data Processing and Law Enforcement, later he developed a two-plus-two program enabling graduates of an Associate degree to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology. He was a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Alumni Association, served on the American Council of Education, North Central Accrediting Association, Oklahoma Retired Educators Association, and the Atoka Retired Educators Association. He authored a book published by Delmar Publishing Company titled “Automatic Control Systems.” After retirement from Cameron he served as an adjunct instructor in the computer science department at SOSU for 5 years.

He served as State Membership Chairman for the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association and was a member of its Board of Directors for 5 years. During that time he authored a handbook containing the duties and responsibilities for Membership and Treasurer Chairperson of Local State Units. He has been a member of the local Atoka Retired Educators since 1990.

Roy’s greatest honor was receiving the Joe Able’s award for being Oklahoma’s Most Outstanding Technical Educator. The award was presented by the Oklahoma Technical Society.

Serving as casketbearers were Chris Graham, Hanks Huddleston, Braxton O’Brien, Nathan Byrd, and Brian Kruzan. Honorary bearers were Boyd Newton, Wayne Bullard, Tom Sutherlin, Ricky Shaber, Gale Jones, Clovis Ronald and Jack Key.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your corrrespondence.