Richard Byrd passed away peacefully at his home on April 5, 2026, surrounded by his children. Richard C Byrd was born on January 24, 1938, to Jesse and Mattie Byrd in Many, Louisiana and later raised by his grandparents, Grandpa and Grandma Walker. As the fourth of seven children who sweetly nicknamed him Shorty, he was given the best life the world could offer him at the time. Raised in the Depression Era he worked hard alongside his grandparents, siblings and hired men to work their cotton farm, with help a little from a talking donkey, to provide for their home. His Grandma’s Bible and the Spirituals sang from his neighbors at night brought him to the Lord. He took every bit of knowledge from his grandparents and set out to find his own way through the world, which led him to the love of his life, Roma Francis Cox. Richard and Roma had a short engagement and married on August 1, 1959, in Port Arthur, Texas, surrounded by family and friends. She used to say, “His shoulders were wide enough to hold up the world, but his butt wouldn’t cover a dime”. But she must’ve liked him, cause once married they quickly started their family. Richard Conrad Jr. came first, and he brought such joy to his Momma and pride to his Daddy. A second boy made his way a few years after, Rayland Edward, a mischievous boy who brought his Momma a couple heart attacks and giggles from his daddy. The only girl, Ronda ReGean came along and she brought a sweetness to her momma and the joy of spoiling a daughter from her Daddy. The littlest Byrd, Reese Wayne, rounded up the family, and he brought his momma joy and his daddy laughter, naming him Roho, his fightin’ red rooster. In the time of building his family, Richard worked hard as a truck driver, running between oilfields hauling pipes and parts all over the US. He worked hard for his family and spoiled his wife in any way he could, she ran the house and he provided for it, and they were a great team. He didn’t mind hard work, and he taught each of his children every skill he had, though some took better than others. Richard and Roma settled their family in Vidor, TX in 1972 and they dug their roots in. They bought a house and made it their home, clearing land for the life he wanted to create. He loved her deeply ‘til she died in March of 2009. He built a good life for his family and has left a legacy that will be carried through the lives of those he leaves behind. He leaves behind three of his four children; Richard Byrd Jr and his family of Nederland, TX; Ronda Phillips and her family of Vidor, TX, Reese Byrd and his family of Vidor, TX, and a Daughter-In-Law Shelly Byrd and her daughter, of Vidor, TX. He leaves several grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved their Pawpaw Byrd dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, six siblings, two grandsons, a son and his beloved wife. We are incredibly thankful for the man he was and every lesson he taught us. Visitation and Funeral Services will be held at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Visitation begins at 12:30pm and Funeral begins at 2:00pm.
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