Obituary for I. Ray Byrd
I. Ray Byrd, Sr., 93, of Salem, Va., entered into eternal peace in the early morning of January 30, 2022. Ray was born in Martinsville, VA on September 1, 1928, to Daniel Edward and Virgie Holt Byrd.
He played football for the Martinsville High School Bulldogs graduating in 1946 where he was voted Most Optimistic and Best Dressed. He attended Randolph Macon College where he pledged the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, finishing his education at the Medical College of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He spent two years as a United States Marine attaining the rank of Captain.
In need of a date to a dance, he was fixed up with Nina Landolina, a Westhampton woman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and they ended up dancing all night. They were married on July 26th, 1952 and continued to jitterbug together for the next 69 years.
In July of 1954, Ray and Nina moved to Salem, VA at the urging of his dear friend and future business partner Ervin Pollard Brooks. Ray and Ervin bought Webber’s Pharmacy in 1959 changing the name to Brooks-Byrd Pharmacy where they filled people’s prescriptions and served orangeades and limeades with hand shaved ice. In later years, he served as a pharmacist at Richfield Pharmacy, the Bradley Free Clinic and the VA Hospital.
He actively served his community through many organizations, often serving as president, including the Salem Kiwanis Club, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Museum, Salem Sports Foundation, the Salem Industrial Authority, the Roanoke Valley Pharmaceutical and the Virginia Pharmaceutical Associations.
Ray was appointed to the City of Salem’s first School Board in 1968 and served as Chairman of the Board for five years. In addition, he served on the boards of Farmer’s National Bank, First Virginia Bank, and Richfield Retirement Community.
He was a longtime member and trustee of Salem Baptist Church where he served on almost every committee except refreshments.
He loved playing golf and tennis at Hidden Valley Country Club, racing his neighbors to grow the first tomato of the season, and sitting on the dock at Smith Mountain Lake watching the sunset with a whiskey sour in hand after finishing a little water skiing.
Ray believed in serving God, his family, and his community. He charmed young and old with a twinkle in his eye, a firm handshake, and a good story. He was a good and faithful servant.
He is survived by his wife, Nina L. Byrd, and children Dr. Carol Byrd (Mark Barr), I. Ray Byrd, Jr. (Susan), Mary Catherine Ruskan, and Laura Byrd Earle (Dave). Grandchildren: Bradley Barr, Dr. Ann Cameron Barr (Matt Standley), Dr. Andrew Barr (Elisabeth), Nicholas Byrd (Kate), Alison Byrd Walker (Nathan), Caroline Byrd Heflin (Kyle), Matthew Ruskan, Catherine Ruskan, Nina Earle, Samuel Earle, and Hank Earle. Great grandchildren Alicia Byrd, Cecilia Byrd, Smith Barr, Ellis Barr, and Sophia Walker.
All services will be held privately by the family due to Covid. However, it will be live-streamed from the funeral home's website on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 1 p.m.
The family would like to extend gratitude to all of the care-givers at Salem Terrace, Friendship Home Care, and Carilion Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to encourage friends to share their time and resources with the Bradley Free Clinic: bradleyfreeclinic.com/donation/ or the Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry: https://salemfoodpantry.org/. Charitable contributions may also be made to Salem Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.
He played football for the Martinsville High School Bulldogs graduating in 1946 where he was voted Most Optimistic and Best Dressed. He attended Randolph Macon College where he pledged the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, finishing his education at the Medical College of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He spent two years as a United States Marine attaining the rank of Captain.
In need of a date to a dance, he was fixed up with Nina Landolina, a Westhampton woman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and they ended up dancing all night. They were married on July 26th, 1952 and continued to jitterbug together for the next 69 years.
In July of 1954, Ray and Nina moved to Salem, VA at the urging of his dear friend and future business partner Ervin Pollard Brooks. Ray and Ervin bought Webber’s Pharmacy in 1959 changing the name to Brooks-Byrd Pharmacy where they filled people’s prescriptions and served orangeades and limeades with hand shaved ice. In later years, he served as a pharmacist at Richfield Pharmacy, the Bradley Free Clinic and the VA Hospital.
He actively served his community through many organizations, often serving as president, including the Salem Kiwanis Club, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Museum, Salem Sports Foundation, the Salem Industrial Authority, the Roanoke Valley Pharmaceutical and the Virginia Pharmaceutical Associations.
Ray was appointed to the City of Salem’s first School Board in 1968 and served as Chairman of the Board for five years. In addition, he served on the boards of Farmer’s National Bank, First Virginia Bank, and Richfield Retirement Community.
He was a longtime member and trustee of Salem Baptist Church where he served on almost every committee except refreshments.
He loved playing golf and tennis at Hidden Valley Country Club, racing his neighbors to grow the first tomato of the season, and sitting on the dock at Smith Mountain Lake watching the sunset with a whiskey sour in hand after finishing a little water skiing.
Ray believed in serving God, his family, and his community. He charmed young and old with a twinkle in his eye, a firm handshake, and a good story. He was a good and faithful servant.
He is survived by his wife, Nina L. Byrd, and children Dr. Carol Byrd (Mark Barr), I. Ray Byrd, Jr. (Susan), Mary Catherine Ruskan, and Laura Byrd Earle (Dave). Grandchildren: Bradley Barr, Dr. Ann Cameron Barr (Matt Standley), Dr. Andrew Barr (Elisabeth), Nicholas Byrd (Kate), Alison Byrd Walker (Nathan), Caroline Byrd Heflin (Kyle), Matthew Ruskan, Catherine Ruskan, Nina Earle, Samuel Earle, and Hank Earle. Great grandchildren Alicia Byrd, Cecilia Byrd, Smith Barr, Ellis Barr, and Sophia Walker.
All services will be held privately by the family due to Covid. However, it will be live-streamed from the funeral home's website on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 1 p.m.
The family would like to extend gratitude to all of the care-givers at Salem Terrace, Friendship Home Care, and Carilion Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to encourage friends to share their time and resources with the Bradley Free Clinic: bradleyfreeclinic.com/donation/ or the Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry: https://salemfoodpantry.org/. Charitable contributions may also be made to Salem Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.