|
||||
![]()
|
William Cliff Bard, Sr. William Cliff
Bard Sr., 93, of Lancaster, died on Saturday, Dec. 17,
2016. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late William Bard and
E. Beatrice (Cliff) Bard Buckwalter. His wife, Ruth (Koser) Bard died in Jan.
2001.
William
"Bill" Bard learned to shoulder much responsibility at a young age
when his father died during the Depression. Some of his
resiliency may have come from his mother's example, who refused to
send her children to an orphanage. Bill became a Jack-of-all-tradesand a master of most of them. He was a spit-and-shine kind of man, perhaps
because of his Army training, and always wore freshly-buffed wing tips to
church on Sunday mornings.
After W.W.II,
Bill delivered milk for Queen Dairy with a horse and cart in
Lancaster City. But, in his lifetime he also installed windows and doors,
worked as an East Lampeter police officer and as a detective for a Lancaster
City judge, primarily serving warrants and escorting prisoners to Court.
Although a man of strong physique, he could usually diffuse a volatile
situation with intelligence, creativity and-sometimes-compassion for the prisoner.
As an admitted
perfectionist, Bill liked to "do things right-or not at all,"
according to his son, Jeff. He was often a rather bluntly honest man who
usually had a disregard of public opinion. He wrote a prolific number of
letters: to his beloved family, including a great grandchild, to the Op-Ed
page of Lancaster newspapers, to his political representatives, even to
companies whose products he enjoyed!
Bill was also
tender-hearted, generous with praise and fun-loving. On summer nights, he'd put
a polka tune on the stereo, turn up the volume, and dance with his daughters on
the front lawn. No matter the sport-ice or roller skating, archery, bowling or
softball-he excelled. He sang solos at weddings, wrote hundreds of poems about
a myriad of topics, including romantic love, the earth that he
cherished, and of God. He also self-published a memoir in his '70's.
Bill loved
painting "Grampa Moses-style" landscapes in his little cottage
studio, which he was able to create until he became too ill in
November. Primarily, he liked to give them away, because he believed that he
could bring people joy.
As a Scout
leader for thirty years, he felt a special affinity for mentoring boys into
strong, responsible men. One of his favorite memories was the challenge of
taking his troop to Philmont Scout Ranch for a wilderness experience in New
Mexico.
Because he had
a passion for preserving this beautiful earth, he led-under the auspices of the
Sertoma Club-the creation of the East Lampeter Community Park.
Bill Bard
wrote in one of his poems"....For the best that you can give to this world
is love..." In word and in life, he earnestly tried to do a good deed
every day, and he truly lived the Golden Rule.
Mr. Bard is
survived by two sons, William Cliff Bard, Jr. (Ann) of Cocoa, FL, Jeffrey Koser
Bard (Nancy) of Lancaster; two daughters, Linda married to Thomas Koch of
Towson, MD, Cynthia Bard Hollinger of Lancaster; 6 grandchildren, Suzanne,
Kevan, Jennifer, Justin, Michael, Amanda; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother,
Richard married to Helen Bard of Lancaster; a sister, Beatrice married to
Donald Andrews of Ronks. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy
Brandt.
The Memorial
Service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at 1:30 pm at the Lampeter
Church of the Brethren, 1900 Lampeter Road, Lampeter. Burial will take
place in the Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In
lieu of flowers, memorials are welcomed to the Lancaster County Conservancy,
117 W. West End Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Send Your Condolences: |