Willis Ward Birchard, 71, of 502 Brown Circle Drive, died October 2, 1977 in the Miami County Hospital, Paola.

The son of William W. and Eva Mae McKenzie Birchard, he was born September 3, 1906 in Osawatomie.

A lifelong resident of Osawatomie, he graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1927 and from the Williams Institute of Mortuary Science in 1929.

On October 2, 1930 he married Edyth M. Horn of Miltonvale, in Osawatomie. They had four children.

Mr. Birchard opened his own funeral home in 1932 and moved to the present location in 1938.

An active member of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association, he served as president in 1957 and 1958. He was a member of the National Funeral Directors Assn., the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie, Benevolent and protective Order of Elks Lodge 921, a charter member and past president of the Lions Club, a member and past master of Osage Valley Lodge 24 AF and AM, AB chapter No. 80 RAM, Three Times Nine Council No. 3 RSM, past patron of Osawatomie Chapter 26, Order of Eastern Star, International Order of Oddfellows No. 23, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, past president of the board of education in the Osawatomie district and a member of the board for 13 years and the Abdallah Shrine.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson.

Survivors include his widow, Edyth, of the home; three daughters, Wilma Johnson, Omaha,Neb., Deana Boedicker and Lela Brown, both of Osawatomie; one son, Willis R. Birchard, Osawatomie, and 13 grandchildren.

Services were held Thursday morning in the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Thompson officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Virginia Reese, organist.

Pallbearers were Gary Burgoon, John Cole, Donald Lindsey, Jr., William Mulford, Chester Landry, Melvin Henness, N. J. Chamberlin and Richard Tyrell.

Burial was in Osawatomie Cemetery.