Obituary of Richard Edward Ward

Richard Edward Ward, 94, of Melbourne Beach, Florida, passed away on September 10th at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born December 12, 1926, in Daviess County to Elisha Oswald and Anna (Valin) Ward. Mr. Ward was a 1947 graduate of Washington High School and served in the U.S. Army Military Police in Germany during World War II.

He married Virginia Woodruff on July 24, 1949, in Washington, IN.

Mr. Ward began his career with the Indiana Bell Telephone Company as a switchman, repairman, and installer in Linton and Vincennes, IN, and retired from AT&T as a supervisor in Carmel, IN. He was a charter member of the Wabash Cannonballs Chapter of the National Campers and Hikers Association. Mr. Ward enjoyed building his own travel trailers and touring the United States with his family. He moved to Melbourne Beach, FL following retirement. Mr. Ward helped to build the beach amenities for the Woodlands Estates and served a time as a president for the Woodlands HOA.

He was preceded in death by his son, Roy Ward; sisters, Lorena Wilson, Virginia Ruley, and Barbara Utterback; brother, John Ward; grandsons, Billy J. Grundell; and niece, Collette Heiple.

Mr. Ward is survived by his wife, Virginia Ward, and daughter, Gwendolyn (Garry) Grundell of Melbourne Beach, Florida; grandchild, Christina Wilson; 2 great-grandchildren, Destiny Grundell and Colby Wilson; nieces, Nancy Ellis, Lynn Wuand, and Charlotte Yochum; and nephews, Michael Ruley and Randy Ward.

A private burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Washington, IN.