H. Blair Ward Jr.

H. Blair Ward, Jr., age 78, of Guys Mills, Pa., passed away surrounded by his beloved daughters Michelle, Kristi and Kelly, and baby granddaughter Catherine, on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the Crawford County Care Center in Saegertown, Pa. He was the son of Rev. H. Blair and Edwinna Ward.

Blair is survived by his sister, Patricia and brother, Charles; three daughters, Michelle and her partner Roxanne, Kristi and her husband Darrell, and Kelly and her husband Paul. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Lee, Harper and Catherine; niece Yvette and her husband Nick and their children, Wilson and Ava; niece Heather; nephew Brian; sister in-law and personal friend Bobbie; ex-wife, Marilyn and her husband Arnold; and treasured friend Chad, who was like a son to him and his wife Lacey, who recently married on Blair's farm.

His daughters and their children were the delight of his life and he was known for his many good deeds for others. He relished his role as "Pop-pop," uncle to his extended family and friend to many across the country and into Canada. He will also be missed by his faithful dog Shadow, and numerous barn cats.

After studying liberal arts for two years at Eastern Nazarene College, he attended Ryerson University. Salutatorian of his class, he graduated as a manufacturing engineering technologist. Early in his career, he held positions in Ontario and New York in tool design and engineering, before moving to Pennsylvania in 1966. He was a manufacturing engineer for the A. O. Smith Corporation, the Talon/Textron Corporation, and Leech Tool and Die Works. Blair was a pioneer designer of continuous plastic molding processes and a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and of the Society of Plastic Engineers.

Known as something of a mechanical genius, he could fix any kind of car and was a designer and driver of light hydroplanes, after his graduation from Ryerson. He had become interested in them while in Toronto, where he belonged to an informal group called the Hopper Club. After moving to Pennsylvania, he purchased the farm that he named Havenhurst Farms, which continued his passion for farming. Locally, he could be counted on never to miss the Crawford County Fair,and was particularly supportive of the Pioneer Steam, and Gas Engine Society in Cambridge Springs, Pa.

His family wishes to thank the staff of the Crawford County Care Center and of AseraCare Hospice, who cared for Blair during his illness, as well as Bobbie, Chad and Lacey, who gave him ongoing support, along with the many friends who visited him faithfully.

A service celebrating his life will be held in August. Arrangements are in the care of Roofner-Collins-Warren Funeral Home. Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Bob's Book of Memories online at www.roofnercollinswarrenfh.com. Blair believed in donating to charity; please give to the charity of your choice.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits