Virginia Bird - Obituary

irginia E. Bird (“Ginnie”) died peacefully on February 10, 2011 in her home in Ft. Washington, Md., with children and grandchildren around her. Ginnie was married for 55 years to Lt. Col. Charles H. Bird (USAF ret.), who passed away in 1999. She was devoted to her three children, Melinda Bird, Charlie Bird and Jon Bird, their spouses, and her 8 grandchildren: Lindsay, Justin, Alexis, Jeff, Nick, Kris, Ella and Aidan. She was a successful realtor and after retirement, volunteered with little theater, garden club, and the Kiyomizu Bonsai club. A memorial service will be held at Kalas Funeral Home, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD, on February 26, 2011 at 2 pm, with visitation for family and friends at 1 pm, and a reception to follow. The family invites donations to charity or flowers. Ginnie was passionate about many things, including several charitable organizations. If you choose to make a donation in her name, please consider one of the following: 1. Food Link, Inc. provides food and other assistance to more than 11,000 Maryland families each month. See, http://www.foodlinkmaryland.org/ Food Link was important to Ginnie because of the good work it does, but also because the executive director, Cathy Holstrom, was soon to be her new daughter-in-law. Donations in Ginnie’s name will be used for the emergency baby pantry and may be made on-line or by a check sent to Food Link, Inc., 2666 Riva Road, 3rd Floor MS 8302, Annapolis, MD 21401. 2. The Tantallon Community Players – the little theater group in Ft Washington, MD with which Ginnie worked for many years. http://tantallonstage.com/live/ Actors from the troupe will sing at her memorial service. The Players are a non-profit charitable organization; donations in Ginnie’s name will be individually acknowledged and may be sent to Tantallon Community Players, P.O. Box 441188, Fort Washington, MD 20749. see 3. Hospice. Ginnie became a member of hospice in 2007 when they provided compassionate care to her daughter-in-law, Alice Bird, as she was dying. Hospice also provided invaluable care and comfort to Ginnie and our family during Ginnie’s own passing. Donations may be sent to Capital Hospice, Attn: Philanthropy Office, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042. http://www.capitalhospice.org/support/donation/ 4. The John Naka Fund of the National Bonsai Foundation. Ginnie was very proud of her friendship with John Naka, who was a revered master Bonsai artist and once wrote a haiku in Ginnie’s honor. Donations of $25 or more are listed on their website and will be used to pave the interior of the John Y Naka Pavilion at the National Arboretum to make it wheelchair accessible. http://www.bonsai-nbf.org/site/naka.html. Donations may be sent to James J. Hughes, Treasurer, National Bonsai Foundation, 3501 New York Avenue N.E., Washington D.C. 20002."