1935
Hannelore
2017
Hannelore Anneliese Bird
May 12, 1935 — March 3, 2017
Hannelore A. Bird died on Friday, March 3, 2017, after a courageous but fruitless battle with cancer.
Born in Gelenau, Erzgebirge, Germany on May, 12, 1935, Lore was the daughter of the late Karl Felix Barthel and Elfriede Pfueller Barthel. She was the loving wife of Joseph (Joe) J. Bird, Jr for over 47 years.
In addition to her parents, Lore was preceded in death by her younger brother, Dietmar Barthel.
In addition to her husband, Lore is survived by three children, Ina Paul of Christchurch, New Zealand, Dr. Danielle Bird-Rainsford (COL.) (Tage, LTC), of Silver Spring, MD, and LTC Derek Bird (Samantha) of Burke, VA, siblings Juergen Felix Barthel of Gersthofen, Germany, Anita Berthold of Lindenberg, Germany, and Beate Barthel of Gelenau, Germany, six grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews.
Lore attended school in East Germany until being expelled by the communists because her parents were “capitalists.” She helped manage the family business until 1961, when she and her daughter Ina secretly escaped to the west through Berlin just before the wall was closed. She worked in the hosiery industry in the west and became well respected as a manager and efficiency expert.
In 1969, Lore and Joe were married and she immigrated to the USA. Her career here included work at the University of Virginia hospital, start up and management of a retail apparel store, and, eventually, a very successful career in retail sales. In 2009, she very proudly became a citizen of the United States.
Lore was very gregarious and loved and respected by all who knew her. She loved her family and worked very hard to keep communication open with her siblings and her children; she called herself “communications central,” and strived for a connected group of family, friends, and loved ones. Hannelore also loved the outdoors, hiking, skiing, just walking and conversing, and, in her later years, doing yoga at the YMCA with her friends and instructors.
Lore was a very active supporter of children’s swimming in Lynchburg while her children participated and she was an ardent supporter of the United States Military, including current soldiers and wounded veterans in her later years.
The family wishes to sincerely thank all of the doctors, dentists, and nurses in Lynchburg and in Charlottesville for the expert and compassionate care they provided to Lore during her life here and especially during her difficult bout with cancer.
The family will receive friends on Monday, March 6, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. Graveside service will be conducted Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Virginia Memorial Park, with the Reverends Peter Thompson and John Scholer officiating. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to “Superintendent’s Annual Fund” West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996 or via www.westpointaog.org/makeagift, or to the charity of your choice.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
View Tribute Video
Born in Gelenau, Erzgebirge, Germany on May, 12, 1935, Lore was the daughter of the late Karl Felix Barthel and Elfriede Pfueller Barthel. She was the loving wife of Joseph (Joe) J. Bird, Jr for over 47 years.
In addition to her parents, Lore was preceded in death by her younger brother, Dietmar Barthel.
In addition to her husband, Lore is survived by three children, Ina Paul of Christchurch, New Zealand, Dr. Danielle Bird-Rainsford (COL.) (Tage, LTC), of Silver Spring, MD, and LTC Derek Bird (Samantha) of Burke, VA, siblings Juergen Felix Barthel of Gersthofen, Germany, Anita Berthold of Lindenberg, Germany, and Beate Barthel of Gelenau, Germany, six grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews.
Lore attended school in East Germany until being expelled by the communists because her parents were “capitalists.” She helped manage the family business until 1961, when she and her daughter Ina secretly escaped to the west through Berlin just before the wall was closed. She worked in the hosiery industry in the west and became well respected as a manager and efficiency expert.
In 1969, Lore and Joe were married and she immigrated to the USA. Her career here included work at the University of Virginia hospital, start up and management of a retail apparel store, and, eventually, a very successful career in retail sales. In 2009, she very proudly became a citizen of the United States.
Lore was very gregarious and loved and respected by all who knew her. She loved her family and worked very hard to keep communication open with her siblings and her children; she called herself “communications central,” and strived for a connected group of family, friends, and loved ones. Hannelore also loved the outdoors, hiking, skiing, just walking and conversing, and, in her later years, doing yoga at the YMCA with her friends and instructors.
Lore was a very active supporter of children’s swimming in Lynchburg while her children participated and she was an ardent supporter of the United States Military, including current soldiers and wounded veterans in her later years.
The family wishes to sincerely thank all of the doctors, dentists, and nurses in Lynchburg and in Charlottesville for the expert and compassionate care they provided to Lore during her life here and especially during her difficult bout with cancer.
The family will receive friends on Monday, March 6, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. Graveside service will be conducted Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Virginia Memorial Park, with the Reverends Peter Thompson and John Scholer officiating. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to “Superintendent’s Annual Fund” West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996 or via www.westpointaog.org/makeagift, or to the charity of your choice.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
View Tribute Video
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