Theodore Birdsall Jr.

THEODORE BIRDSALL JR.

Cedar Rapids

Theodore Joseph Birdsall Jr. passed away Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, in Stuart, Fla.

Ted was born in Union City, N.J., 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 17 and spent more than two years in the Pacific theater. He was then chosen to attend flight scool and was sent to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Following his honorable discharge at the end of the war, he found work in Cedar Rapids. On Aug. 1, 1947, he married Eileen Mae Kotilinek, who remained the love of his life for 67 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, N.Y.; Berea, Ohio; Greenville, S.C.; Wyomissing; Pennsylvania; and Schaumberg, Ill.

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, Fla.

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.

Online condolences may be made at www.

martin-funeral.com.

Arrangements were

entrusted to Martin Funeral Home & Crematory, Stuart, Fla.