Howard 'Wayne' Wingard Jr., age 75, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025. He was born on July 31, 1949 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to the late Howard W. Sr. and Pauline (Biss) Wingard.

He graduated from Bishop McCort High School and joined the Army in 1968 and was a combat medic in Vietnam. He joined the Columbus Police Department in 1972 and retired in January 2003. Wayne provided bicycle safety for the students at Jersey Elementary for many years. He later drove charter buses and provided transportation to new recruits at the MEPS in Gahanna.

He was a 28-year survivor of head and neck cancer, beating the odds of a 9-year life expectancy. With the strong support and love of Mary Ann by his side, he was able to enjoy life with a voice, eating/drinking, and breathing on his own.

With some health hiccups here and there over the last 28 years, he traveled, celebrated, spent time with family, loved his cats and his Thunderbird, trains, and collecting oddities. He dedicated time to St Pius X Church, joined the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and VFW, and was a lifetime member of the FOP.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Wayne Wingard, Sr., and Pauline Wingard. Those left to treasure his memories are his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann (Stermec) Wingard; his children, Brian W. (Colleen) Wingard, Stephanie M. (Jeff) Thibodeau, Melinda A. Wingard, and Jennifer L. (Greg) Davies; his siblings, Mary Ann, Alene, Steven, Sandy, William, and Allison; his grandchildren, Ashley, Kiersten, Jonathon, Andrew, Skylar, and Rylan; and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025; visitation with family will begin at 9:15 am, with a 10:30am mass, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1051 Waggoner Rd in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, with Fr. Watikha, officiating. (Please come down from Broad Street due to road construction). Internment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery with Honor Guard at Noon, 11539 National Rd in Pataskala, Ohio.

The family would like to thank Dr. David E Schuller and his team at OSU and all Physicians that have provided his care throughout the years. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to OSU Head and Neck Oncology Fund to support David E. Schuller, M.D., for Oncology Research at the James. (Fund Number: 301667) in memory of Wayne.

Pfeifer Woodyard Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.