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Edward B. Reighard - Obituary
Clarion News - Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Edward B. Reighard, 94, of Clearfield passed from this life to his eternal reward
in heaven on Thursday, June 26, 2008.
Mr. Reighard was born at Oak Ridge. His parents, the late C. Edd and Ida Buzard Reighard, instilled in him integrity and the value of an honest day's work as he grew up in Millcreek Township and Clarion Township, Clarion County.
Mr. Reighard will be greatly missed by his beloved wife, Kathryn Bell Reighard. They were married September 2, 1939, at Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Ninevah by the Rev. Earl Weaver, her uncle, and the Rev. Wilson, the local minister.
Education was of utmost importance to Mr. Reighard. After completing both the academic and vocational curriculum at Union Vocational High School at Corsica in 1931, he furthered his education and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in education with certifications in science, social studies and English from Clarion State Teachers College.
Mr. Reighard pursued graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his master's degree in education.
Mr. Reighard was a brilliant man who shared his love of learning by working 45 years in the public schools of Pennsylvania. His teaching career began in a one-room school in Clarion County. He then taught two years in the Worthington-West Franklin Junior-Senior High School, Armstrong County, where he taught seventh-graders. From there he went to Freeport High School, Armstrong County where he taught chemistry and physics.
After teaching in the classroom for 13 years, he entered school administration for 32 years. He served as an elementary principal, a high school principal, a supervising principal, the last assistant county superintendent of the Clearfield County Schools and the first executive director of the Central Intermediate Unit which covered Clinton County, Centre County and Clearfield County. He started one of the first (possibly the first) joint school systems in Pennsylvania and is credited with initiating the building of one of the first new high schools after World War II in Pennsylvania (Harmony High School ).
After retiring from the intermediate unit in 1978, Mr. Reighard and his wife traveled in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries. He also wrote 14 books for public sale. Mr. Reighard's two main hobbies prior to and following retirement was growing Christmas trees and doing cabinet work.
Mr. Reighard's faith and belief in God were the most important parts of his life. His greatest desire was to fulfill the plan and walk the path that God had for him on this earth. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he served in many different capacities over the years. He taught the young married couples' class, the men's class one Sunday a month and was a past member of the Education Committee of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Mr. Reighard served his community as a director of The County National Bank for 18 years. He was chairman of the Clearfield Borough Zoning Board for six years and was a member of Clearfield Borough Council for eight years. Mr. Reighard was a past director of the Hemlock Girl Scout Council and a past director of the Clearfield YMCA. He had been a member of the Clearfield Rotary Club since 1969 and was a past president of the organization. He belonged to the Masonic order since 1947 and was a 32nd degree member of the Coudersport Consistory.
He was a life member of the National Educational Association, a life member of the Pennsylvania Association of Retired School Employees, a member of Clearfield County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Employees, a past member of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association, a past member and president of the Clearfield County Educational Association, past member of Pennsylvania Association of County Superintendents and a past member of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Executive Directors.
Mr. Reighard was also a past member of Harmony Grange and had been a member of the Pennsylvania Tree Farmers for 40 years.
Mr. Reighard and his wife were blessed with three sons, James F. Reighard and wife, Bunny, of Albion and Robert Lee Reighard and wife, Deborah, of Hollidaysburg. Their eldest son, Thomas Edward Reighard, was fatally injured in 1982. In addition, he is survived by a daughter-in-law, Gail Giddings and husband, Larry, of New Milford , Conn. Grandchildren who fondly called him "Poppy" and always looked forward to visits are Tammy Fischer and husband, Justin, of Warren, Conn., Thomas E. Reighard and fiancée, Silvia Pan, of Warren, Conn., Shari Sell of Albion, James E. Reighard and wife, Autumn, of Marysville, Ohio, Carrie Reighard of Leland, N.C., and Katelyn Reighard of Hollidaysburg. In addition there is grandson-in-law, Matthew Giddings and wife, Jennifer, of New Fairfield, Conn. Five great-grandchildren also survive, Owen Reighard of Warren, Conn., Jacob Sell of Albion, Julia Skye Fischer of Warren, Conn., Madelynn Alexis Giddings of New Fairfield, Conn., and Luke James Reighard of Marysville, Ohio. A brother, T. Dan Reighard of Jacksonville, Fla. and wife, Betts, also survive. In addition to his parents, Mr. Reighard was preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth Seigworth, Peggy Foote and Betty Black.
Friends were received Friday, June 27, 2008, at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc., 312 East Locust Street, Clearfield , and prior to the service Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Clearfield .
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 28, 2008, in the church with the Rev. Robert Rupp officiating. Interment was in the Crown Crest Memorial Park in Hyde.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, 121 South Second Street, Clearfield, 16830, or to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Boulevard., Suite 602, Pittsburgh, 15235, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Old News of Clarion County