Maynard was born in Gilliam, WV. Maynard was only ten years old when his father died in a mining accident. He went to work in the coal mines at age 16 and worked there through age 18. He served in the navy during WWII (1942-1946) on the USS Tripoli. Ira went to Topeka, Kansas to find work in 1960. Finding a job with the Santa Fe Railroad, he moved his family in 1964. He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad until retiring in 1984.

Maynard had several strokes and admited his memory had faded. He was substained by his friend, Georgiann "George" Reed. Maynard died at home at 5:45 a.m. on 11-Nov-2007. He is interred beside his wife and son at Penwell Gabel Cemetary, in Topeka, KS.

Maynard was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, serving as a church trustee, Sunday school teacher, and a disciple training leader.

Mary was a homemaker for her husband and son. She died only two years after Ira's retirement. She is interred in Topeka.

Ira and Virginia's only known child was Ira Maynard Jr. whom they called "Sonny" and who went by the name "Ira" (28-Dec-1949 to 4-May-2003).