NORWAY — Edward “Ted” Hards, 93, died peacefully Tuesday, March 14, at his home on Norway Lake, surrounded by the love of family.
He was born March 3, 1924, in London, England, the son of Benjamin and Minnie (Jones) Hards and brother of Gerald. Ted was educated in local schools, graduating from Durham University in Durham, England, before serving his country during World War II. He served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and Navy. He trained to fly in Canada, and a highlight of his life was flying the Sunderland airplanes that were used in the war effort.
It was during the war while stationed in Scotland that Ted met Joyce Yeaman. They were married April 2, 1948. After the war, Ted continued his education, attending Leather Sellers Technical College in London preparing to enter the family business of tanning. In 1952, they immigrated to Acton, Ontario, Canada, to work for Beardmore Leather Co. By 1954, they had immigrated to the United States where Ted would work for A.C. Lawrence Leather Co. in Salem, Mass. In 1959, Ted was sent to South Paris to help open A.C. Lawrence’s new tannery. It was in that community that he and Joyce raised their family.
He was also very active in the local community, serving on many boards of local nonprofits. They left South Paris in 1972. His later career saw him serve as president of Wisconsin Leather in Milwaukee, Wis., and then on to Guttmann Leather in Chicago, Ill., from where he retired. In the late 1980s, he and Joyce returned to Norway where Ted continued to work as a private consultant in the leather industry.
In 1988, Ted proudly became an American citizen. In his retirement, he enjoyed reading, gardening and art.
Ted is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Jane Hards and Judy Mayberry; son-in-law, Don Mayberry; granddaughters, Sarah Mayberry and Susie Hanington, husband, Mark Hanington; and great-grandson, Cash Hanington. He is also survived by his brother’s children, Geraldine Toni Newmark and Nicholas Hards.
Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.
