TROY-

Walter J Willard, Sr passed away quietly on February 16, 2023, at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy at 93 years of age. He was born March 16th 1929 to the late Andrew and Mary Willard in Troy NY.
He began working throughout high school for Freihofer's bakery truck/wagon. He entered the service after graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1947. He was a paratrooper for the Army. After that he worked at Grant’s department store in downtown Troy, designing their windows. This led him to a career of opening, designing, and managing various department stores all over NY and New England. He and his wife named and opened the first Jamesway Department Store in Jamestown, NY. In 1965 he decided to move the family back to Troy so he and his son could start the family restaurant business Willard’s Steerhouse. They had restaurants in Troy, Cohoes, Halfmoon, and Clifton Country Mall. After closing the last restaurant, he held positions in the financial world as a stockbroker and stock newspaper creator. Before his eventual retirement in his 80’s, he assisted others in the restaurant business to obtain their liquor license and design their kitchens. Being artistic, he loved to draw and paint and also created many newspaper advertisements. Walter and Jean were dedicated members of the United Hope Methodist Church of Troy. He is predeceased by his brothers Earl and Edward Willard, his sister Rosalie Flynn and his grandson Ari Josef Thomas Willard. He leaves behind his wife of 73 years, Jean Barlow Willard, his son Walter J Willard, Jr, of Pawleys Island SC, his daughters Wendy Willard (Robert Lombardo) of Troy, Wanda Glenn (Jeff) of Mays Landing NJ, his grandsons Jason Willard (Carrie) of Dexter MI, Jared Willard of Watervliet, Jordan Willard of Rensselaer, as well as their mother Nadine Mahan and his grandson Jeffrey Glenn (Alison) of Philadelphia, PA. He also has many wonderful nieces and nephews as well and 4 great grandsons

The Willard family is asking a special request
In lieu of flowers all donations to be made to The Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.
woundedwarriorproject.org/