Ira Dale Baird was born on February 1, 1933, in Loraine, Texas, to Roy and Ida Baird. He died of cancer on January 26, 2017, at his home in Farmers Branch. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Lydia, his parents, brothers, Roy and Gene Baird, and his brother-in-law, Walt Manske. Dale is survived by his wife of 54 years, Olga Ann, and children Martin Baird and wife Robyn of Farmers Branch, Anne Eckholm and husband Seth of Richardson, and his loving and devoted grandchildren, Ben, Sam and Luke Eckholm, and Reichley and Gibson Baird, and his sister-in-law, Phyllis Manske of Waco. He graduated with a BA from Hardin-Simmons University, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and later received his MA in Economics and English. Dale worked as an auditor for Oil Well Supply, a division of US Steel, and then joined IBM in 1963 as a Systems Engineer and retired as a Senior Marketing Representative in 1989. In retirement he enjoyed gardening, reading widely, working N.Y. Times crossword puzzles, and especially being with his wife, children and grandchildren. In years past Dale served on the church councils of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Farmers Branch, and Christ Lutheran Church, Dallas. He was a lector, communion assistant, volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and donated gallons of blood during his life. Dale is remembered as a kind, reserved, witty, and generous man. His quick one-liners and limericks brought laughs. His love of repairing things was expressed years ago by a grandson who told a friend who had broken something, "That's ok, my Papa can fix anything." A private memorial service was held on Monday, January 30, at Hilltop Cemetery in Carrollton. 

Published in Dallas Morning News on Feb. 4, 2017