John Alward

John D. Alward, 83, of Edinboro passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 10, 2021 with his family at his bedside. He was born in Edinboro on March 15,1937 and lived his whole life there. He was the son of the late Cecil and Edna (Long) Alward.

John spent two years in the Army following his graduation from Edinboro High School.  He spent the majority of his career (30 years) as a combination man for General Telephone & Electric Company (GTE), which is now part of Verizon. After his retirement from GTE, he spent ten years driving disabled students for Edinboro University. He was fiercely committed to his family and was a loving husband of his wife, Wanda, for 54 years.

John enjoyed golfing, camping, watching golf and pro-football, and spending time with family and friends, specifically with visits to Holmes County, OH.

He was a member of Cambridge Springs Christian & Missionary Alliance Church where he attended for several decades and served as Trustee and Elder at various times.

In addition to John’s parents, he was preceded in death by several brothers, Russell, James, Charles, Marvin and Tommy; and sisters Irene Biby and Shirley Lewis.

Survivors include his wife Wanda (Sandy); daughters, Alicia (Doug) Shirk, of Elizabethtown, PA, and Melinda (John) Stephens of Beaver Falls, PA; a granddaughter, Rebecca Shirk of Lancaster, PA, and five grandsons, Gregory Shirk of York, PA, fiancée of Noah Sneddon of Downingtown, PA, Adam Stephens, Michael Stephens, Daniel Stephens and Zachary Stephens, all of Beaver Falls, PA.  Also survived by his sisters Marjory (Frank) Tau of Mesa, AZ, Beatrice (Ray) Cole of Mill Village, PA, Lois (Darrell) Richardson of Three Forks, MT, Carol (Marc) Perlman of Phoenix, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Cambridge Springs Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, 233 Church St., Cambridge Springs on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon.  A memorial service will immediately follow at the same location. All CDC guidelines requiring face masks and social distancing will be in place.

The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at donate.LLS.org. To send condolences please visit www.gluntfuneralhome.com.