David Miles Alward

Willow resident and lifelong Alaskan David Miles Alward, 73, died suddenly on May 10, 2013, at his home.

An informal gathering for family and friends is from 2 to 4 p.m., May 18 on Jean Lake off Long Lake Road in Willow at the hangar at 47500 W. Causey Lane.

Dave was born in Palmer April 24, 1940, to Steve and Bernice Alward. He graduated from Anchorage High School in 1958, where he was a member of the State Championship Basketball Team.

Dave worked in his early years at Monty’s Department Store, Alaska Moving and Storage, Anchorage Westward Hotel, Arden’s Dairy, the Alaska Pipeline and as the co-owner of B&D Furniture Refinishing with his brother-in-law Bill Emswiler. Later, he worked and enjoyed being a bus driver for People Mover before retiring as a Teamster. In addition, he was an outstanding carpenter and general handyman.

His family came to Alaska as a part of the Matanuska Valley Colony Project. Dave loved spending time with his family both immediate and his “adopted” Willow Boitz family. He grew up in an Alaska lifestyle, hunting and fishing, Jeeping, four-wheeling, snowmachining and camping at Montana Creek. He never missed an opportunity to peg a point at cribbage, throw a ton-80 in darts or take the bid in a game of pinochle.

Surviving are his three sons and their wives, Joe and Corrine, Jerry and Annette, and Jason and Sandy; daughter, Alaina and Bryan Anderson; grandchildren, Jake, Megan, Avery, Grayson and Taylor; brothers, Ted, Joe and Piddy; sisters, Sue and Kenny Hightower, Marybeth and Jim Whitman; sisters-in-law, Elsie and Judy; aunts, Shirley, and Mary Piakowski; and many, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Mike, Bob, Steve and Buz; daughter, Charlene; and the love of his life, Elaine Pettis.

His ashes will be spread at Big Rock Montana Creek this summer, a place that was special to him and will always be a four-wheeling destination for his family.

Arrangements were with Kehl’s Palmer Legacy Funeral Home.