James W. "Wilkie" Bird, Jr., age 53 of Dayton, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2023 at the Miami Valley Hospital – North Campus in Englewood surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 2, 1969, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of the late James W., Sr. & Peggy Ann (Westfall) Bird.

Wilkie was an employee of Stark Wrecking Co. He loved all kinds of music especially heavy metal. He met a lot of friends through the Dayton Metal Family "DMF", and Wilkie promoted bands with John Jacobs Jingles Promotions. He was an avid fan of OSU Football, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati Reds, NASCAR, and WWE wrestling.

Preceded in death by the father who raised him Carl Young, Sr., his infant son James Wendel Wilkie Bird, III, his daughter Jessica Lee Bird, his sister Peggy Ann Edwards and by his brother Carl Young.

He is survived by his mother who raised him Ethel Mae Young, his son Jarrett Michael Bird, 2 brothers Jim Bird & Rick Young and wife Cheri, 2 sisters Timi Bird, and Liz Brown and husband John, the mother of his children Sana Bird, his loving companion Rhea Booth, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Swart Funeral Home, West Carrollton.

Please share condolences at www.swartfuneralhome.com. Sympathy, Love, and Thinking of You cards may be sent to The Family of Mr. James "Wilkie" Bird, Jr. , C/O Swart Funeral Home, 207 E. Central Ave., West Carrollton, Ohio 45449.