William “Ed” Willard, 87, of Hagerstown, passed away on Monday, July 4, 2022 at The Springs of Richmond. He was born on April 10, 1935 in Plainfield, N.J. to Ray and Wilma (Miller) Willard. Ed lived in Moral Township, Shelby County, then Indianapolis, Greenfield and Cambridge City before moving to Hagerstown in 1951. He often said that home is where his hat is and he doesn’t own a hat.
After graduating from Hagerstown HS in 1953, Ed attended the University of North Dakota with a football scholarship. He volunteered for the draft in 1954, serving in the Army from 1954 – 1956 (18 months in France). On October 10, 1954 (2 weeks prior to going in the service) Ed married Pat Scott, a fellow 1953 classmate. They were married 53 years when Pat passed away from cancer. After four years as a widower, Ed married another 1953 classmate Jane Ann (Peirce, Lesh) Willard in 2011. Ed owned and operated E and P Consultants after retiring from Warehouse Division of Dana Corp.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Ann; two daughters, Robin (Jim) Price and Tricia Crawford; 7 grandchildren, Brandon Crawford, Ben Crawford, Brett Crawford, Cameron Price, Jared Price, Kelly (Gurchiek) O’Donohoe and Chris Gurchiek; 11 great-grandchildren, Mabel, Holden, Vera, Carrig and Joshua O’Donohoe, Lillian, Evelyn, Paxton, Finn, Justine and Bennett Crawford, and his sister Barbara (Bill) Bunger.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Pat, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherri Gurchiek; brother, Dick and a nephew, Bret Willard.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Waskom Capitol Hill Chapel and Burial was at Jacksonburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Jacksonburg Christian Church or American Legion Post #338, 615 W. Main St., Hagerstown, IN 47346.
Online condolences to www.waskoms.com