Earl ?Lester? Bird passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, November 24 at the age of 84. He was born in Chesterfield and was a life long resident of North Hanover Township. Lester took over the day to day operation of his parent?s dairy farm right out of high school, and eventually farmed on his own. He retired from dairy farming in the mid 1960?s and went to work for Norman Bright?s in New Egypt delivering farm equipment for 12 years and then worked for Farm-Rite in Shiloh, NJ also delivering farm equipment. Lester enjoyed family and friends immensely; he never missed a family celebration and rarely missed a firehouse or church supper, and he NEVER missed his morning coffee with his buddies at Tootie?s. Lester?s hobbies included vegetable gardening (especially his pole lima beans), refinishing furniture and driving his 1940 Chevy. Lester was also an avid Phillie?s fan. Lester was a life member of the Wrightstown Vol. Fire Co. for over 50 years, a former member of the Wrightstown First Aid Squad, a life member of the New Egypt Elks Lodge #2457 for over 41 years, a past member of the North Hanover Township Special Police Force, a member of the NJ Farm Bureau and he also attended the Cookstown United Methodist Church. Son of the late Edward R. and Lena G. Bird and brother of the late Paul Bird and John (Jack) Bird, Lester was happily married and is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eugenia P. (Jean) Bird; also he is survived by two sons, William Bird and wife Gayelynne of Wrightstown and Wayne Bird and wife April of Chesterfield; his grandchildren, William Bird, Jr. and wife Melissa, Robert Bird, Sr. and wife Carla, Stephanie Bird, Briana Bird and Denver Bird and wife Julie; four great-grandchildren, Caryce Shinn, Miranda Nicholl, Bobby Bird, Jr. and Anthony Nicholl; his brothers-in-law, William H. Wainwright and wife Janet and John Crawford; his sisters-in-law, Ann Boike, Katherine Bird and Jane Bird and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be sadly missed. Funeral services for Lester will be held on Tuesday, November 29 at 11:00 AM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street in New Egypt (www.tilghmanfh.com) with Rev. Norman Eckley officiating. Burial will follow in the Jacobstown Cemetery. Calling hours will be on Monday evening, November 28 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lester?s memory may be made to Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053-3101 (www.samaritanhealthcarenj.org) or to the Cookstown United Methodist Church, 16 Main Street, Cookstown, NJ 08511.