Flight service founder Ward Seeley dies at 80
With more than a half-century of flying experience, E. Ward Seeley remained grounded when it came to customers.
"Dad would sometimes get up in the middle of the night without complaining," said Seeley's son Steven, who now runs Seeley Aircraft Service, 4825 Janes in Buena Vista Township.
"He always said that if you wanted to be in business, this is what you had to do. Dad was just a giving person and he cared about people."
Ward Seeley owned Saginaw Valley's longest-running aviation business until he retired in June 1998. He died Sunday of complications from a stroke. He was 80.
His funeral is 4 p.m. Thursday at the Saginaw Valley Church of the Nazarene, 1815 Tittabawassee.
His daughter, Lexie Keie of Clarkston, recalled how her father "never liked to drive."
"Whenever we would go on vacation or something we would fly," she said.
Steve Seeley said his father was in good health before suffering the stroke last month.
"People didn't believe he was 80," he said. "He still would ride his bike around the hangar for exercise."
Ward Seeley also served as manager of the county's Harry Browne International Airport from 1955 to 1973. The flight service is based there.
Seeley estimated that he taught 700 to 800 students, logging 8,200 flight hours as an instructor.
"I've never done anything foolish in an airplane," Seeley said when he retired. He added he had to make several emergency landings, but never crashed.
Seeley is also survived by his wife, Dorothy, and daughter Toni of Traverse City.
Published in the Saginaw News (MI) - October 11, 1999
E. Ward Seeley
SAGINAW – E. Ward Seeley went to be with the Lord on Oct. 8.
He was born Sept. 24, 1919, in Topeka, Kansas. On Feb. 27, 1943, in Wichita Falls, Texas, he married Dorothy Elaine Eikey.
He served in the U.S. Navy from March 1942 to October 1945. Ward conducted business, which he started in 1954 under the name of Seeley Aircraft Service, at Saginaw Municipal Airport; the airport later became Harry Browne Airport. He was later joined by his son, Steven Seeley. Ward was active in the business until the time of his death. He was also airport manager from 1955 to 1973.
Surviving children and spouses are Toni and Pat Bearss of Traverse City, Steven and Judy Seeley of Freeland, and Lexie and Liew Keie of Clarkston. Also surviving are 10 special grandchildren, Shane and Casey Bearss; Joel, Nomi, Rachel, Christine and Jonathan Seeley; and Corissa, Brandon, and Tara Keie. Ward is also survived by his sister, Melba (William) Sidwell of Topeka, Kansas, and his brother, Norman of Long Beach, Calif.
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Saginaw Valley Church of the Nazarene located at 1815 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw.
The family requests that no flowers be sent. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Paul Dye, missionary pilot of New Tribes Missions, or to Immanuel Baptist Church in Saginaw.
Arrangements by Hill Funeral Home (formerly PeaceRose).
Published in the Record-Eagle, (Traverse City, MI), Tuesday October 12, 1999
[Great-great-grandson of SGS # 3439 - Elmer Ward; Elmer James; Charles Mark; Daniel F.; Cornelius (# 3439); Daniel (# 1554); David; Charles; Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]
| 
