Obituary from The Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, LA, Saturday, 18 Dec 2010, page A4

Mr. George Herman Birdwell, 81, of Marthaville, passed away on Thursday, December 16, 2010, at Grace Home in Shreveport.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Sunday, December 19, at Jennings Chapel Congregational Methodist Church, near Marthaville, with the Rev. Brian Jennings and the Rev. Chris Bruce officiating. Burial will follow at McCaskill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, December 18, at the church.

Herman was born on March 17, 1929 in Marthaville, to George and Lottie Birdwell and went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2010 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

He retired from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Department, after serving nearly thirty years in law enforcement, which included the Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Sheriff's Department and Superintendent of the Caddo Parish Penal Farm.

After serving his country in the United States Air Force, he spent a brief period working in the copper mine in Morenci, Arizona and the oil field in Hobbs, New Mexico before settling into a long career in law enforcement. Herman loved hunting, camping, working on his farm, and sharing fruit and vegetables with family and friends.

He was a lifelong and faithful member of Jennings Chapel where he accepted Christ at an early age.

Herman was preceded in death by his parents George and Lottie Birdwell; sister, Mertie Birdwell; brothers, Dick Birdwell, Preacher Birdwell, Nuke Birdwell, Hoyt Birdwell, Raymond Birdwell, Harvey Birdwell, Odell Birdwell, Wilmer Birdwell and Harold Birdwell.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Virginia Bruce Birdwell of Marthaville; two sons, Steve Birdwell and wife Phyllis of Marthaville, and Stacy Birdwell and wife Tammy of Shreveport; five grandchildren, Emily Birdwell of Shreveport; Cody Birdwell of Wyandotte, Michigan; Dana Birdwell, Lori Birdwell, and Mark Birdwell of Marthaville; one brother, Vernon Birdwell of Marthaville; along with numerous nieces, nephews.

Pallbearers will be Carl Birdwell, Marlin Birdwell, George Birdwell, Coy Birdwell, Winston Birdwell, Mike Birdwell, Gary Birdwell, and Hal Birdwell.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Gwen Cook, Vivian Sparks, Betty Remedies, Gary Birdwell, and Joe Childress for their care and devotion to our Dad. We also want to thank Dr. Richard Zweig, Dr. Rick Michael, and the staffs of Garden Park and Grace Home for their care and compassion during our Dad's illness.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7