Ralph Ray Byrd, age 89 , of Elizabethtown, KY, passed away at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, (January 18, 2020).

He was born on July 7, 1930 in English, IN, the son of the late Russell and Lola Apple Byrd.

He graduated valedictorian from Tell City High School, Tell City IN. He attended Purdue, playing the bass drum in the marching band. He was owner of Byrd Tool Corporation in Leitchfield, which he started in 1979 in East Stroudsburg, PA. Byrd also preached for several Churches of Christ in Indiana and Kentucky. He was a mess sergeant in the Korean Conflict, discharged as a Lieutenant. He designed, built and flew RC airplanes. He loved fishing, wood-working and gardening.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 29 years, Myrna (Sutherland McCullum) Byrd; 4 children, Jo Ann (James) Coehoorn, Robert Ray Byrd, Thomas Neal (Martha) Byrd, Saranell (Kris) Kaufmann; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and step-children, Donna Lynn Franey, Joan Marie Berry, Laura Lee Sutherland and James Robert Sutherland.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Una Alice Winchell Byrd; 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, (January 22, 2020) at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield. Jim Coehoorn will be officiating. Burial will be in the Lone Star Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Dermitt Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9:00 a.m. Wednesday until time of services.