Rayford Randolph Birdwell, 90, of Silsbee, died Monday, May 23, 2016. He was born on December 24, 1925, in Nacogdoches, to Sarah Corley Birdwell and George Samuel Birdwell. Mr. Birdwell served his country in the United States Marines during World War II and was owner of Birdwell Department Store in Silsbee.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Birdwell; daughters, Sabrina Diehl and her husband, Jim of Moore, Oklahoma and Leslie Pursley and her husband, Bartley, of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Martha Diehl Ribeiro of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jordan Monroe Diehl and his wife, Samantha, of San Antonio; and Aaron Randolph Diehl of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Gabriela Ribeiro, Aiden Burd, Tyler Diehl, Hunter Diehl, and Steven Diehl; nephew, Vance Payne and his wife, Louann, of Lake Fork; niece, Celeste Salifia of San Marcus; great-nephew, Ross Payne and his wife, Yasmin, of Irving; and sister-in-law, Fay Birdwell, of San Marcus. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ethan, Boyce, and Wintford Birdwell; and sisters, Jewel Lundquist and Katherine Payne.
A gathering of Mr. Birdwell’s family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m., with his memorial service at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, under the direction of Broussard’s, Silsbee. His committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Birdwell’s memory to the Christian Care Center, P.O. Box 2050, Silsbee, Texas 77656 or First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, Texas 77656.
