Lionel Patrick Byrd Jr.

Lionel Patrick Byrd, Jr.

1946-2022

“If someone should ask for me,

Tell’ em heaven is where I’ll be.

I've finished all my life's chores,

And now I fish on heavens shores.”

-David Ritter

Lionel Patrick Byrd, Jr. “Skip” loved life and cherished his friends and family. Wherever he went he “brought the light” and was a joyful presence. His great passion was the time spent boating and fishing with friends on the open seas and traveling with Thalvis, his beloved wife. On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, he was called home to live in eternal peace.

Skip was born on August 20, 1946, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the second of Major Lionel Patrick Byrd and Camolia Alcorn Byrd’s five children. He and his older sister Cheryl spent their childhood surrounded by a close and lively group of cousins in their parents’ hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a young boy, he and Cheryl sailed with their mother on the USS Darby across the Atlantic to join his dad who was serving in the U.S. Army in Bremerhaven, Germany. Returning to the U.S. in 1956, the family lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, before ultimately settling in Oklahoma City where Skip attended Mount St. Mary’s High School and was a member of the varsity football team. After attending Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma for two years, he transferred to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma and graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing. While in college, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and developed many lifelong friendships.

In 1966, during the Vietnam War, Skip was drafted and joined the U.S. Army. He deployed to Germany on active duty and later served as an Army Reservist assigned to the Oklahoma National Guard until his honorable discharge in 1972.  Early in his work career, Skip worked for the Oklahoma City Urban League as a counselor and job developer for the League’s On-The-Job Training Project.

In 1970, while living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Skip met the young woman who would bring unbridled happiness to his life. After a brief courtship, he, and Thalvis Jeanetta Rankin (“Tee”) were married and enjoyed a 52-year union. She was the love of his life, his confidante, and, in every sense of the word, his “best friend.” His greatest pride was in their two children – Gwendolyn Nicole (Nikki) and Chad. Following in her dad and grandfather’s footsteps, Nikki served proudly in the military and later graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing ultimately becoming a labor and delivery nurse. Chad graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View University, and now serves as an IT Specialist in Houston, Texas.

Lured by the natural beauty of the northwestern United States, in 1978, Skip and Thalvis relocated their family from Tulsa to Vancouver, Washington later settling across the river in Portland, Oregon. After the move, “Skip” fulfilled his lifelong dream and obtained his pilot’s license. Skip could fix just about any engine.  He was always known to work on the family cars, even rebuilding the motors, and worked on plane engines.

Skip joined the Intel Corporation in 1978, rising through the ranks and holding numerous Management and Program Development positions. While at Intel, Skip played a pivotal role in promoting, hiring, and mentoring African American employees. He initiated Intel recruitment efforts at Historically Black Colleges and personally mentored many of those hired. To this day he is credited by many for shepherding their careers, enabling them to succeed in a challenging environment. Skip retired from Intel in 2010.

A kind and fun-loving soul, Skip brought joy to everyone he touched. He gave plenty of love and was beloved by many. His warm and welcoming smile, infectious laugh, and razor-sharp wit charmed and endeared family and friends. An avid news junkie, Skip was rarely without an opinion on matters of politics and national affairs, which he served up without reservation to all who were willing to listen and learn. He played a mean game of Dominoes, always peppered with a sharp tongue and lots of laughter.

Skip had an adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors. Some of his happiest moments were spent on his boat, fishing with buddies, cruising, and exploring national parks with Thalvis.  He loved the mountains of the great northwest and Canada, enjoyed skiing, and was also a marathon walker. Skip was a devoted family man, and always attentive to the care of his beloved mother. He was led by his faith in Jesus Christ and a deep moral code. He was an active member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and the Men’s Life Group.

Skip was predeceased by his father, Major Lionel Patrick Byrd Sr.; and his sister, Dr. Cheryl Patricia Byrd.

He is survived by his wife, Thalvis J. Byrd; mother, Camolia Alcorn Byrd; children, Nicole Byrd Johnson (Terry) and Chad Christoper Byrd (Yvonne); grandchildren, Tré Johnson, Tia Johnson, Mason Byrd, Lilliana Ramirez, and Mia Byrd; siblings, Judith I. Byrd, Roderick J. Byrd, and Janell Byrd-Chichester (Norman); nieces, Karin Kimbrough Bonnar (Matthieu), Shonte M. Byrd, Jacqueline Crawford, Garmaine Terry, and Antoinette Crawford Major; grand nephews and nieces, Sebastian Bonnard, Alec Bonnard, Elizabeth Markland, Peyton Johnson, Quinn Terry, Raphael Terry and Ashley Foster; goddaughter, Celeste Jackson Leyritz; and a host of beloved relatives and friends.

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