Willard Elden “Timber” Harwood

Funeral services for Willard Elden “Timber” Harwood, 95, Lawrence will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014 at Plymouth Congregational Church. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Elden died Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Elden was born July 10, 1918 in Tonganoxie, KS the son of William T. and Emma Jane (Cannon) Harwood.
Elden began his career in the theater business at the age of 14 putting up marques at the Pattee theater in Lawrence. His first manager position began at the age of 18. After serving as a Sargent in the US Army Air Corp in India during WWII, he returned home to continue his career in the theater business. He worked for Commonwealth Theaters as a manager in Norton and Great Bend, Kansas, Carrollton and Springfield, Missouri and Creston, Iowa. Before his retirement at the age of 70, he was a district manager for Commonwealth. His district covered Lawrence and all of Kansas.
He became a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in 1933. He was also a member of the Lawrence Rotary Club, and was a Mason. He served on the City Council in Great Bend, Kansas and was Mayor from 1961 – 1965.
He married Gwenneth G. Praeger on October 31, 1949 at the Praeger homestead in Claflin, KS. She preceded him in death November 12, 2002.
Survivors include three daughters, Molly A. Harwood and Allan Stillman, Gwenneth B. “Junior” Wedd and husband Dirk, Charlotte Lawrenz and husband Randy Wells, all of Lawrence; two sons, Duncan E. Harwood and wife Patty Chaney Harwood, Dallas, TX, Mark W. Harwood, Lawrence; grandchildren, Spencer Lawrenz, Michael Besaw, AR Wells (Barb), JD Wells, Christy Ball (John), Lelah Harwood, Lizzy Harwood Sanders (David), Ben Harwood, Shane Wedd, Lora Wedd Hardesty (Scott), Emma Stillman; great grandchildren, Vaughn Wells, Kiera Wells, Hudson, Harrison and Halle Hardesty, Luke Harwood, Justice, Jalen and Jacoree Sanders, and Kat and Taylor Ball. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Winston and Milfred; and one sister, Margaret.
Visitation will be from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 13th at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in his name designated to USD 497, Lawrence High School Fine Arts Department and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.