Ward H. Guild

Groton - Ward H. Guild, 79, of 51 C St., Groton, died June 23, 2013, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

He was born June 16, 1934, in Wellsville, N.Y., the son of Rex Ashton Guild and Ruth (Ingalls) Guild. In his youth, Ward was a life Boy Scout, a Patrol Leader in the Explorer Scouts, and a member of the undefeated Allentown High School "Whiz Kids" basketball team. Ward studied glass technology at Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., human relations at Mitchell College in New London, and graduated with honors from the University of New Haven with a degree in business administration. He was a member of the Alpha Sigma Lamda Honor Society.

Ward served four years in the U.S. Navy as a specialist in electronics and advanced underwater weapons systems. He worked 32 years at Electric Boat in Groton, six years in Research and Development, and 26 years as the metrology supervisor in the Quality Assurance Engineering laboratories. After his retirement from Electric Boat in 1990, Ward worked various part-time jobs, but none made him happier than becoming a security officer at Olde Mystick Village. Ward loved working there and made many cherished friends. Ward especially enjoyed interacting with the many feathered friends who lived at the duck pond. Many people knew Ward as the "Candy Man", because he would hand out candy to everyone he met. He believed that a small gift of candy would brighten someone's day, and it often did elicit a smile from most people. Ward kept busy with his hobbies of philosophy, the research of family genealogy, and social networking on the computer. Ward loved animals and supported many charities including the SPCA, the National Wildlife Federation, and Greenpeace.

Ward was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Janice E. Guild (Beebe) and his son, Steven D. Guild.

He is survived by his daughters, Deborah Guild and Tracy Griffin of Groton; son-in-law, Christopher Griffin; and grandsons, Adam Griffin, John Guild, and Thomas Guild, all of Groton.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 28, at Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Ward to the charity of one's choice.

To share a message of condolence or remembrance with his family, please visit www.dinotofuneral.com.