Ward Henry Hurd, 78, of Haven Health Center of Claremont, a former long time resident of the Old Church Road in Claremont, died Friday evening, December 8, 2006 at the Valley Regional Hospital.  He was born in Newport, NH on September 28, 1928 the son of Frank I. and Gertrude M. (Allen) Hurd and had resided in Claremont since 1962. Mr. Hurd retired in December of 1989 as a cutter at the Encore Shoe Company in Newport where he worked for five years and had previously worked at Alta Ma Delta Shoe and Albert's Shoe of Newport and the International Shoe of Claremont. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude Anna (Hentschel) Hurd of Claremont whom he married on April 14, 1962; one brother, Robert Hurd and his wife, Moni of Newport; three nieces, Carolyn Moore, Elaine Lamothe and Sabine Coupal; one sister-in-law, Caroline Hurd of Newport; one nephew, Rodney Hurd; several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews including Carl & Carol Willis.  He was predeceased by one brother, Harold Hurd in 1989 and one sister Hazel Hurd in 2004. Funeral services will be held Monday morning, Dec. 11th at Eleven O'clock at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont with Rev. Father Stanley J. Piwowar, Pastor of St Joseph Church, officiating.  Interment will follow in the new Union Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Funeral Home on Monday from 10 to 11 AM prior to the services. The family suggests that donations may be made in his memory to the March of Dimes Foundation, 109 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.