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BIRD Eleanor Winn Smith Bird peacefully passed away on October 4, 2007 in San Antonio, Texas. The fourth child of the late Thomas Wesley Smith and Mary Pauline Prewitt, she was born on August 4, 1919 in Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Aubrey Howard Bird, son Curtis Anthony Bird, brothers Thomas Wesley Smith, Jr., and William Prewitt Smith, sister Marion and husband Pat Duncan, sister Dorothea and husband James Hines and brother-in-law Douglas Patterson. She is survived and will be missed by her son Ben and wife Lourdes Bird, son Ray and wife Mary Jennings Bird, daughter Nancy and husband Ron Mellen, daughter-in-law Mary Jung Bird, sister Beth and husband Lou Hunter, sister Jimmie and husband Thurman Green, sister Laurene Patterson, sister Margaret and husband Wilson Roussel, sister-in-law Jean Smith; and, grandchildren William, Amanda, Linda, Kathryn, Curtis, Alan, Ed, Alison and Ellie, 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Eleanor was proud of her entire family and for many years shared her genealogical research by preparing and giving calendars showing historic event dates of interest to every family member. She will be most remembered for her professional and personal caring for others throughout her life. After graduating from the University of Houston with a degree in psychology, in 1951 Eleanor became director of a YWCA girls camp in Comfort, Texas. Shortly thereafter, she went to work for the Texas State Hospital System, first in San Antonio and then in Kerrville where she was the Director of Occupational Therapy through 1964. During this time she was instrumental in developing, together with the HEB Foundation, an innovative rehabilitation program which took patients from their institutional confines to therapy retreats at the HEB Foundation Camp in the Texas Hill Country near Leakey. She then became Administrator of Saint Thomas Convalescent Home in Houston for several years until she returned to state employment as Supervisor of Child Protective Services for Brazoria County. After retiring in 1979, Eleanor moved to San Antonio and became active in many volunteer programs. She loved to volunteer at Joseph Cotton Elementary School as a teaching assistant. She became well known for teaching children in her neighborhood to read. When they grew into adults, many of these children returned to express their gratitude for her giving them this life tool. She also became a volunteer alternative dispute resolution counselor with the Bexar County Mediation Center. Many people, from politicians to neighborhood children, sought Eleanors counsel and wisdom for all kinds of matters including campaign issues, family crisis and even how to tend an injured bird. She was always willing to help. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 12, 2007 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 227 S. Chenango Street, Angleton, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Josephs Indian School, Chamberlain, SD, 57325-0100.

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Eleanor Winn Smith Bird

August 4, 1919 - October 4, 2007