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Eugene Edwin Oard,
Sr.
Carrollton &
Farmers Branch
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OBITUARY
 Eugene
"Gene"" Oard
October 28, 1932 - February 8, 2023
Eugene (Gene) Edwin Oard, 90, of Rockwall, Texas, died on February 8th,
2023 at Methodist Richardson Medical Center, from complications of a
stroke. Gene was a self-made man of the sort described by the great
abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglas: "Self-made men are the men
who, under peculiar difficulties and without the ordinary helps of
favoring circumstances, have attained knowledge, usefulness, power and
position and have learned from themselves the best uses to which life
can be put in this world, and in the exercises of these uses to build up
worthy character."
Born on October 28,1932 in Mansfield, Ohio to Harry Minard Oard, an
itinerant welder, and Mildred Rosaline Burke, a housewife, Gene's early
life was chaotic. The family moved often and under distressing
circumstances. Fortunately, he had an older sister, Mildred M. Gaines
(1925-2010), whom he dearly loved.
Gene completed high school in Virginia at the age of fifteen and began
fulltime work as a "nail pounder." Family took him to Texas, where he
settled for the duration of his life, living in and around Dallas.
Drafted for the Korean War, Gene joined the Airforce Reserve and served
at Chance Vought, where he worked on the Vought F8 Crusader. He learned
from every job he took and, in the process, worked his way up from "nail
pounder" to CEO of his own very successful crane manufacturing company,
Oard Manufacturing Incorporated, or OMI in Royce City, TX.
In November of 1950, Gene married Shirley Ann Curtis. Their daughter
Sharon was born in July of 1952 and son Eugene Edwin Oard Jr. followed
in November of 1955. The marriage ended in divorce in 1958.
Gene married Jessie Faye Oard in May of 1960 and became father to her
4-year-old son, Ronald Blake. Their daughter, Laura Christine was born
in December of 1960. Gene and Faye were married for forty-eight years,
until Faye's death in May of 2008. He and Faye enjoyed sailing on Lake
Ray Hubbard. In his mid-fifties, Gene took up running and even
considered entering a marathon.
By his seventies, he slowed his pace to walking. Often, he strolled to
the town square in Rockwall, where he played games at the Rockwall
Senior Center. There, he met Mary L. Edman. The two married on December
5, 2009. Unfortunately, their union was brief. Mary passed away in
September of 2012.
For the last several years, Gene has lived with his daughter Chris and
son-in-law Mark O'Brien.
A beloved father and grandfather, he is survived by daughters Chris and
Sharon, by son, Ronald as well as by grandchildren (Ashley, Jonathon,
Kimberly, Corey, Devin, Alex, Megan, & Travis) and two
great-grandchildren, (Hunter & Emery).
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 24th at
Resthaven Funeral Home in Rowlett (3701 Rowlett Rd, Rowlett, TX 75088).
In lieu of flowers, may we suggest a donation to Doctors without
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