Homer E. Buzard Jr., 83, formerly of Rimersburg, died at 2:14 p.m. Saturday at the ACMH Hospital, Kittanning. Shortly before his death, he lived at the Sugar Creek Rest in Worthington. Prior to that, he lived at Gray's Creekside Manor in Worthington for 15 years.

Born Jan. 8, 1925, in Redbank, Armstrong County, he was the son of Homer E. and Gladys Hawk Buzard.

He was a 1941 graduate of the Rimersburg Madison Joint High School and received a degree in education from the Clarion State Teachers College in 1949. He then earned a Master of Arts and a master's degree in education, including his principal's certification from the University of Pittsburgh. He began his teaching career at the Wildcat Elementary School in Rimersburg before moving to sixth grade at the Sligo Elementary School. He then served as supervising principal and elementary superintendent in charge of five elementary schools for the East Brady School District, including East Brady, Bradys Bend, Sugarcreek, Sherett and Reesdale. Before his retirement, he was the supervising principal at the North Buffalo and East Franklin elementary schools in the Armstrong School District. He retired in 1978.

During World War II, he served as a Navy signalman on several ships stationed in the Pacific.

In the 1940s and 1950s, he was a well-known pitcher for several area baseball teams including the Clarion County All-Stars and was known for his unique windup.

Mr. Buzard was a lifelong member of the Rimersburg United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Fidelis Class and served on various church committees. He was a member and past president of the East Brady Rotary Club and was a member of the Rimersburg VFW.

He enjoyed gardening, golf, nature and the works of Henry David Thoreau.

Surviving are three daughters and their husbands, Susan and Ray Scott of Rimersburg, Marji and Dan Montana of DuBois, and Brenda and Greg Smathers of Clarion; a son and his wife, Dan and Bei Buzard of Boston, Mass.; and eight grandchildren, Molly and Neil Scott of Rimersburg, Andrew and Angela Busard of Boston, Tim and Mark Montana of DuBois, and Steven and Jimmy Smathers of Clarion. He also is survived by two brothers and their wives, Stanley and Mary Ann Buzard of Erie and Tom and Sandi Buzard of Hendersonville, Tenn.; two sisters and their husbands, Greta and Bob Bowser and Nancy and the Rev. Ron Hankey, all of Grove City; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He married the former Gloria Fay Reddinger on June 16, 1951, and she died Sept. 21, 2004. He also was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kathryn Elizabeth Montana.

<B>BUZARD </B>— Friends of Homer E. Buzard Jr., who died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Varner Funeral Home </B>of Rimersburg. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Brock Beveridge, pastor of the Rimersburg United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at the Rimersburg Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the ceremonial squads of the Rimersburg VFW and American Legion.Memorials may be made to Gray's Creekside Manor, 100 W. Main St., Worthington, PA 16262.