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Theodore Joseph Birdsall Jr.
March 4, 1924–August 5, 2014
Theodore Joseph Birdsall, Jr., 90, passed away in Stuart, Florida on August 5, 2014.
Ted was born in Union City, New Jersey on March 4, 1924, the eldest of four children born to Theodore Joseph and Margaret (Marsh) Birdsall. He began working at an early age to help his family through the Great Depression.
When the U. S. entered World War II, he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age seventeen and spent more than two years in the Pacific Theater. He then was chosen to attend flight school and was sent to Cornell College in Mt. Vernon. Following his honorable discharge at the end of the war, he found work in Cedar Rapids.
On August 1, 1947 he married Eileen Mae Kotilinek, who remained the love of his life for sixty-seven years.
Ted became active in Linn County politics and served as Deputy County Auditor before accepting a position with the Cryovac Division of W. R. Grace & Company. During his career with Grace he was transferred many times, living in Lockport, New York; Berea, Ohio; Greenville, South Carolina; Wyomissing, Pennsylvania: and Schaumberg, Illinois.
Following his retirement, he resided in Oxford Junction, Iowa, where he was elected mayor three times. He subsequently divided his time between Oxford Junction and Jensen Beach, Florida.
Throughout his life Ted was an active member of the Republican Party and the American Legion. He delighted in the company of old friends and new, and spent many happy hours fishing the Wapsipinicon River in Iowa and surfcasting the ocean at Jensen Beach
Ted was the father of three sons; the death of the oldest in 1967 was the greatest sadness of his life. He is survived by his wife Eileen, sons Paul and Dennis, daughters-in-law Patty and Diane, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Submitted by: Janet A. Brandt
Source: Midland Times, Wyoming, Iowa, 15 Aug 2014

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Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:55:43 MST