The Family of William Conley Byrd, age 82 has invited the PGR to Honor their Hero and it is our privilege to so.
William Conley Byrd, 82, of Santa Maria, CA passed away on February 15, 2020. Bill was born in Texas on March 17, 1937. His family moved to Nipomo when he was 5 years old. Bill attended grade school in Nipomo and Santa Maria High School from which he graduated in 1955.
Bill then joined the Army and took his basic training at Fort Ord. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Officer Candidate School and graduated 3rd in his class. He stayed and attended Airborne School and received his parachute wings. From there he went to Panama for Jungle Warfare Training and then back to Fort Ord as a 1st Lieutenant and was in charge of the Bayonet training. Bill was honorably discharged from the Army in 1962, joined the Army Reserve and was made Captain after returning to Santa Maria with his wife Gloria.
Bill was very active in the community he loved and grew up in, Santa Maria Valley President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and Small Business Person of the Year.
Bill is survived by his wife Gloria of 63 years, his son Brian (Catherine), daughter Kristin (Tom) Putnam. He was very proud of his three grandchilden, Joanne, Jeremy, and Olivia Byrd. His brother Elwin(Sandra) and in-laws Roger and Sandra Bunch, Sharon Egan and numerous family members,and their 6 month old son Brian, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Geneva Byrd and sister Isla Faye Berry and in-laws Dave and Margaret Kaukonen.
A brief graveyard burial will be held for family and friends at the Santa Maria Cemetery (old section) at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 29th.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Saturday, 29 FEB 2020:0900 - Staging Dudley Hoffman Mortuary 1003 E. Stowell Rd., Santa Maria Ca. 93454
https://goo.gl/maps/bcx27SpmNGVc7QUf70915 - Mission Briefing
0930 - Flag Line for Transfer of Hero From Mortuary to Coach, then Accompany Hero to his Final Resting Place.
0940 - KSU to the old Section of the Santa Maria Cemetery 1501 S. College Dr. Santa Maria Ca. 93454
https://goo.gl/maps/7wiN7qyEBY3QE8Ub71000 - Flag Line, graveside service and Military Honors.
Please bring your flag and water none provided.
R/C John Archuleta (Milkshake)
PGR Assistant State Captain So.Central Ca.US Army 62/65
805-441-8506
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
