Ward Mccracken

Ward H. McCracken, 91, of Woodland, PA died on Sunday, October 2nd at Penn Highlands Clearfield.

He was born on October 25, 1930, at home in Shawville, son of the late J. Ward and Margaret (Kyler) McCracken. In January of 1950, Ward married Nina Moore, whom he described as “the love of his life,” and his “rock.” Together they raised 11 children.

In January of 1951, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and he trained in the Artillery School where he learned to be a mechanic for artillery track vehicles. This army training was the start of a lifelong career for Ward. He had an intense need to know how things worked, and he constantly would try to figure things out so he could find a way to fix them. After his army tour, he worked as a mechanic for many local trucking companies such as Burns, Bremen’s, and Soult, and usually worked at least one or two other jobs at the same time in order to provide for his growing family.

Additionally, Ward was always available to help everyone and anyone fix their cars, trucks, tractors, or motorhomes. Family, friends, or even sometimes total strangers who landed in his front yard on busy Route 322 were the grateful recipients of his willingness to give an automotive consult or repair. It also goes almost without saying that anyone who knew Ward knows that Ford Motor Company products were his favorite.
Ward was a proud, hardworking, true old school family man whose word was his bond, and for whom providing for his family was always paramount.

Even with 11 kids to raise, life wasn’t always about work for Ward. He loved to fish, and often could be found in his favorite trout stream
at Sinnemahoning or on the creeks around Lake Erie fishing for steelhead. Camping at many state and local parks with his family was another favorite pastime of his, and later in life he and Nina traveled often in their motorhome.
Ward was also a skilled woodworker who made clocks, bookcases, fly tying stands, tables and other furniture. These were gifted to family and friends, and if you received one, you felt in possession of a real treasure.

Ward is survived by 11 children: Ward H. McCracken Jr. (Tina) of Erie, David “Mike” McCracken (Verlee) of Woodland, Carolyn Schenk (John)of Clearfield, Nina “Wezie” Adams (Ted) of Clearfield, Edward McCracken (Carolyn) of Jackson, CA, Chris McCracken (Tracey) of Curwensville, Joan Castillo of Clearfield, Amy Larson (Tom) of Philipsburg, Kevin McCracken of Wellsboro, Eric McCracken (Beth) of Clearfield; 30 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren; a brother, Earl McCracken (Penny), and a sister, Peggy Abrino.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Nina, he was preceded in death by two infant sons, a daughter, Janet Hansard, sisters Adeline Frelin, Henrietta Smay, and brothers Arnold, David, Ardell, Leroy, Donald, Duane, Jimmy and Robert McCracken.

Funeral services will be held at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 10 AM with Msgr. Henry L. Krebs officiating. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery, Clearfield.

Friends will be received at the Beardsley Funeral Home and Crematory, Clearfield on Wednesday from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM and on Thursday from 9-9:30 AM.

Memorials may be made St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Janet Hansard McCracken Memorial Scholarship fund.

To sign the online guest book go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.