GERALD LLOYD WILLARD

Gerald Lloyd Willard, 72, died May 3, 2004, at Saluda Nursing Center in Saluda, S.C.

Memorial services were held at 4 p.m. on May 5 at E.C. Copeland Memorial Chapel in Beaufort, S.C.

Mr. Willard was born July 9, 1931, in Spokane, Wash., a son of Ida Marie Workman Willard and Marcus Willard.

He was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps/Air Force and a prisoner of war during the Korean conflict. He was superintendent of Parks and Recreation Department of Lewis County, Wash., where he repaired and rebuilt parks after the eruption of Mount St. Helens. He was a general manager for La Quinta Hotels and a community leader in Indianapolis, Ind.; Savannah, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn., and Tallahassee, Fla., prior to his retirement.

Survivors include his step-mother Carol Ekman of Mead, Wash.; his wife Barbara Allen Willard of Greenwood, S.C.; sons Gerald "Bud" Willard Jr. of Wasilla and John Willard of Vancouver, Wash.; daughters Ann Marie Cheshire of Beaufort, S.C., Karen Willard of Wasilla, Cathy Connors of Puyallup, Wash., and Susan Massey of Tacoma, Wash.; brother Mark Willard of Morton, Wash.; sisters, Dee Dee Fulton of Kauai, Hawaii, Donna Knowles of Mesa, Ariz., Shirley Clemens of Centralia, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105 or to the Disabled American's Veterans Association Memorial Program Post Office Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Arrangements were handled by Copeland Funeral Home in South Carolina.