David A. Yard of Waterford, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 4, 2010 at Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA. Dave was born May 13, 1934 in Franklin, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Vinton E. and Olive Roemer Yard.
Yard, David A.He was a graduate of Franklin High School (1951), Grove City College (1955) and The Pennsylvania State University. His career in education began in 1955 in the Corry Area School District where he taught secondary mathematics for 8 years and coached track and field. In 1963, he moved to Waterford to become principal at Fort LeBoeuf High School. After 30 years of service there, he retired in 1993. He valued the many colleagues with whom he worked and treasured the thousands of students with whom he came in contact over those years, watching their development and successes.
Dave enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveling with his family. He served on the State Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Secondary School Principals. He was a member of the Waterford Asbury United Methodist Church and a life member of Myrtle Lodge 316 of the Masons in Franklin and of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. As a retiree, he served at the local and regional levels of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Dorthy Exley Yard; three sons, Allen D. Yard (Ruth) of Waterford, Frederick L. Yard (Diana) of Lovettsville, Virginia and Donald A. Yard of Danville, Virginia; and one daughter, Carol Grace Yard of Newberg, Oregon; and three
grandchildren, Shannon and Tristan Yard of Lovettsville and Evelin Yard of Waterford.
The Yard family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 7:00-9:00 pm at the
Van Matre Funeral Home, W. First & Walnut Streets, Waterford, and again on Thursday morning from 9:00-11:00 am at the Asbury United Methodist Church, W. Second & Walnut Streets, Waterford. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am officiated by Rev. Dennis Lawton, pastor of Tidioute First and Tionesta, PA United Methodist Churches. Burial will take place in Franklin Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Fort LeBoeuf Foundation for scholarships or to another charity of ones choice.