Daniel Williard

Daniel S. Williard VIRGINIA BEACH - Daniel Smith Williard of 700 Oriole Drive, a 60-year resident of Virginia Beach, passed away Sept. 16, 2008, in Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital with family at his bedside. He was born Aug. 8, 1922, in Kernersville, N.C., to Daniel Ernest and Minnie Smith Williard. Mr. Williard was a graduate of Kernersville High School, after which he served in the Navy during World War II. He continued on in the military serving in the Virginia Army National Guard with 20 years of faithful service. He retired as first sergeant of the Fourth Missile Battalion (Nike Hercules) 111th Artillery. He retired after 23 years from Investors Diversified Services (American Express) as a financial advisor. He also served as president of Launch Service Inc. of which he co-owned from 1963-1978. Mr. Williard was a lifetime member of the Kernerville Moravian Church. He was a former member of the Ward's Corner Lion's Club. He was an active member of the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club for many years. He was an avid golfer having made four holes-in-one. He enjoyed his golf and gin rummy games with lifelong friends. The most proud moments of his life and the thing he cared about the most, was watching his family grow into everything he ever dreamed for them. He was a man of few sentimental words, but to those who were his family and to those he called friend, you knew he was someone you could always count on no matter what the problem or challenge may be. He amazed everyone with his fighting spirit, including his doctors when he became a cancer survivor in 2000 after losing a lung to the disease. Mr. Williard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George Donald Williard and wife Mary Lillian. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Evelyn Hewitt Williard, whom he met when he was stationed here and by his two devoted sons, Daniel Ernest Williard II and wife Mary Lou Williard and William Hewitt Williard and wife Karla N. Williard; three grandsons, Daniel Ernest "Trey" Williard III, Wade Scott Williard and William Garrett Williard, all of Virginia Beach. He is also survived by his brother, Joseph Wiley Williard and wife Sally; sister, Evelyn Williard Stafford and husband Harold Wade Stafford, all of Kernersville, N.C. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, grand nephews and a loyal family friend Margaret Griffin, along with his most recent caregiver Terri-Lynn Wiesemann. Mr. Williard was a loving husband, father and grandfather and he will be missed and remembered by many. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, followed by a reception and a celebration of his life at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made to the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Fund, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23501 or the charity of choice.