The Rt. Rev. David B. Birney IV, former Bishop of Idaho and assistant Bishop of Massachusetts, who became a friend and active supply clergy in the Diocese of Lexington following his retirement to Danville, Ky., died on Feb. 13 in Danville. From 1969 through 1972, he served as a missionary appointee to the Church of Uganda, and from 1971-1975 in Botswana. He was the coordinator of overseas ministries at the Episcopal Church Center from 1976-1982, when he was elected Bishop of Idaho.

Bishop Birney was a member of the board of the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief and a member of its National Hunger Committee, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s envoy to the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, and a former President of Province 8. The native of New Orleans will be best remembered in the Diocese of Lexington for his service in many of its parishes during retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; sons, David V and Robert, both of Danville; a grandson; a brother, Frank, of California, and a sister, Jane deLeeuw, of Massachusetts.