Glenn Thomas Bard

Glenn Thomas Bard, 79, of Seaside, died Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Astoria.

He was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Forest Grove, to Tom and Elva (Shibley) Bard.

Raised in Forest Grove, he graduated from Forest Grove High School May 25, 1951.

From January 1953 to January 1956, he served in the U.S. Army, where he was a combat engineer and witnessed two atomic bomb detonations from close range.

On Jan. 24, 1954, he married Kathryn Adams in Forest Grove. She preceded him in death Feb. 4, 2012.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Mr. Bard worked at Forest Grove Auto Parts store and shortly thereafter opened his own store, Bard’s Auto Parts in Seaside, which he and his wife owned and operated for 42 years. He retired in 1997.

He was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church in Cannon Beach. He also volunteered with many organizations including Seaside Kids Inc. and the Clatsop Community Action (CCA) Regional Food Bank, and held many positions with the Seaside Fire Department, including chaplain and volunteer.

Family members said that after retiring, he enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, gardening and mowing the lawn. He was known for his patience with family and friends.

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Bard of Astoria and Patti and Shawn Mitchell of Spokane, Wash.; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Christine Bard of Seaside; and a brother, Gene Bard of Duluth, Minn.

A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 21, at the Cannon Beach Presbyterian Church, 132 Washington St., followed by meeting at 1 p.m. at the North Coast Family Fellowship Church, 2245 N. Wahanna Road in Seaside, for a fire truck procession to Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. in the chapel at the cemetery, after which there will be memorial reception at 4 p.m. back at North Coast Family Fellowship Church.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Seaside Kids Inc., P.O. Box 275, Seaside, OR 97138; CCA Regional Food Bank, 364 Ninth St., Astoria, OR 97103; or the Seaside Fire Department, 150 S. Lincoln, Seaside, OR 97138.

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com