Wallace Laird; Jr.; 74; of Lynnwood; Rostraver Township; passed away Friday; June 18; 2004; at Mon Valley Hospital. He was born in Monessen on August 1; 1929; the first son of the late Wallace and Mary Damore Laird of Lynnwood; Rostraver Township. He graduated with the Rostraver High School Class of 1947 and served as vice president of his Senior Class. As a trumpet player in the band; he was referred to as the second Harry James. He was also a writer for the Rostravette school paper; a member of the yearbook staff; a member of the Mixed Chorus; and an actor in both his junior and senior class plays. He served as a member; treasurer; and speaker of the Rostraver Class of 1947 Reunion Committee. After high school; he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve; Ready Reserve; where he served as a Cannoneer with the B Battery 14th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He was activated during the Korean War and attended Leadership School at Fort Benning; Georgia. Sergeant Laird served as a Drill Instructor with the 680th Engineers at Camp Rucker; Alabama until 1951. He then served four years of inactive duty and received an Honorable Discharge in 1955. He attended several reunions with other members of the 680th Engineers over the years. He was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659. Wally became a camping pioneer in the early 1960s. He spent every summer weekend; holiday and vacation camping with his family and friends until his illness incapacitated him this year. Mr. Laird worked as a Chief Research Technician for Bituminous Coal Research National Laboratory in Monroeville for thirty years. He retired in 1994. Mr. Laird was a member of the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church located in Rostraver Township. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by a special aunt; Elizabeth Damore DeRentis. Mr. Laird is survived by his wife of 53 years; Anna Jean Thomas Laird; two sons and daughters-in-law: Gary and Sarah Laird of Cottonwood; Arizona and Tracy and Elizabeth Laird of Concord; North Carolina; one daughter and son-in-law: Randy and Nancy Koslosky of Belle Vernon; five grandsons and three granddaughters-in-law: Bruce and Melissa Pendleton of Monessen; Ryan and Jayme Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Robert and Kelly Pendleton of Belle Vernon; Geoffrey Laird of Tempe; Arizona; and Erik Laird of Concord; North Carolina; three granddaughters: Rochele Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Amanda Pendleton of Belle Vernon; and Jennifer Laird of Concord; North Carolina; eight great-grandchildren: Chance and Cayden Laird of Las Vegas; Tyan and Tayler Laird of Las Vegas; Nevada; Alyssa; Bruce III; and Makendra Pendleton of Monessen; and Robert Pendleton II of Belle Vernon; two brothers and sisters-in-law; James and Lillian Laird of Belle Vernon and David and Alana Laird of Phoenix. Arizona; one brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law: Raymond and Barbara Thomas of Tucson; Arizona; Kathy Thomas of Swansboro; North Carolina; and Carmen Thomas of Joplin; Missouri; two nieces and nephews-in-law: Eleanor Laird and Kenneth Beaver and children Devastasha and Leo of Sheffield; Ohio; Elaine Laird and Chas Gaertner and daughter Greta of Carrboro; North Carolina; one nephew; William Laird of Belle Vernon and his fiancee Kelly Rockwell of Brownsville. Mr. Laird is also survived by numerous cousins and loving lifelong friends; including his best buddy Midnight and one very special redheaded Angel named Stacey. Friends will be received Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Rev. William Lawson; pastor of the Marion Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to: Rehoboth Church; 442 Rehoboth Road; Belle Vernon; Pa. 15012.