Edgar Harold Willard IV

Edgar (Gar) Harold Willard, IV, 40, of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away on December 22, 2013 at his home and with his family, after a long five-year struggle with leiomyosarcoma. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 27, 1973, and moved to Winter Haven from Atlanta, Georgia with his parents. He was a graduate of Winter Haven High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rollins College in 1996. He then proceeded to follow two of his major interests, art and music, and was a founding member and lead guitarist of the successful group Gum Wrapper Curb, later known as Virginwool. Following this, he attended Emory Riddle Aviation University and graduated at the top of his class in the Captain's Program. He went on to a career with the commercial airlines until he was forced to quit because of health reasons. He was also an avid glider pilot and is a baptized Christian. Most of all he wants to be remembered for his greatest passion, his family. He was a wonderful, devoted father and husband. There was never a time, despite his pain, that he could not find the time to be both. He will be greatly missed, and those of us who remain may take some comfort from the words of Tennyson, " Tis better to have

loved and lost than never to love at all". He is survived by his wife, Tammy Lynn Willard; his seven-year old son, Edgar (Big Boy) Harold Willard, V; his parents Dr. Edgar Harold Willard, III and Diane LaVerne Willard; his brother, Zachary Bryan Willard, wife Heather, and their children, Alyssa Joy, Aubrey Leighe, and Liam Gracen Willard of Gainesville, Florida. Visitation will be held 6- 8pm Thursday. Services will be held Friday 12 noon all at Ott-Laughlin, Winter Haven. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the SLO foundation which is a cause dear to his and his family's hearts. SLO/RSH Foundation P.O. Box 10598, Fargo ND. 58106-0598. USA Phone,701-367-1976 Email: [email protected]. www.smithlemliopitz.org