Laconia-----Willard “Bill” Hayward, 90, of 144 Franklin Street, Laconia, died at his home on Monday, December 17, 2012 after a period of failing health.
Mr. Hayward was born May 7, 1922 in Laconia, the son of Milton D. and Elsa (Griffin) Hayward. He graduated in the Class of 1940 at Laconia High School. In 1942, he joined the U. S. Army in WWII and attended radio school in Pittsburgh, PA. as a high speed operator in the Signal Headquarters of the 13th Fighter Command, serving two and a half years in the South Pacific, returning in Dec., 1945.
Mr. Hayward loved the sports world and was a solid fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the Laconia Country Club for over fifty years. He also loved to hike and camp and enjoyed water sports at their home on Lake Opechee. His hobby beyond sports was his love of gardening and landscaping. As a young man, skiing was his favorite sport and he was one of the first skiers when Belknap Area (now known as Gunstock) opened.
Mr. Hayward was President and Treasurer of Hayward’s Country Store for twenty-two years, which closed with Urban Renewal. During that period, he was very active in civic and social work as a Director of the Chamber of Commerce, President in 1969 of the Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Red Cross for four years, was on the Board of the YMCA, Cub Master and Board Member at the United Baptist Church. He currently attended the Gilford Community Church. He was a Moderator of Ward 6 for eight years, worked in local politics and volunteered actively with Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice .
Mr. Hayward spent five years as Sales Manager of Tri-County Service and then joined the Team at Gunstock as Ski Shop and Camping Manager for eleven years. After retiring, they spent their winter months , for twenty-two years, in Lake Wales, Florida.
Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Eleanor (Dinsmoor) Hayward, of Laconia; a son, Alynn Hayward, of Wentworth; a daughter, Janis Curtis, of Laconia; a brother, Robert Hayward, of Kansas City, MO. and sisters, Mary St. Gelais of Gilford and Patricia Varney, of Springfield, MA. He spent a great deal of time with his family and was so proud of his six grandchildren who called him Bump: William Walden of Pomfret, CT., Benjamin Walden and his wife, Elfriede of Eliot, ME, Aaron Hayward and his wife, Kathleen, of Laconia, Kristen Hayward Nazer and her husband, Corey, of Gilford, Robert Curtis and his wife, Katie, of Greenland, NH and Timothy Curtis and his wife, Jackie, of Newburyport, MA. and twelve great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hayward was predeceased by his oldest daughter, Ann Walden Richmond, in 1993 and by his brother, Chester, in 2009.
There will be no calling hours.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:00AM at the Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, N.H. Rev. Michael Graham, Pastor of the Church, will officiate.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or to the Community Wellness Center, 22 Strafford St. Ste 2, Laconia, N.H. 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.