Richard Donald Ward

On a blustery Monday, August 5, 2024, as Hurricane Debby churned above, Richard Donald Ward, formerly of Salem, passed away peacefully after a brief illness in Celebration, FL at the age of 87 years. 

Born October 29, 1936, to Donald A. and Ruth Eakin Ward, he was the oldest of five children who grew up on Ward’s Poultry Farm on Route 9, south of Salem, near Winona. He attended not one, but two one-room schoolhouses, the Votaw School and Highland School, where he excelled and even skipped a grade, before moving to Salem High School, where he graduated with the class of 1953. He went on to join the ROTC at the University of Cincinnati, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration, working for Youngstown Kitchens through his college years,  He obtained the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army, serving at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and Camp Irwin, CA with his first wife, Betty Evans Ward. After his Army service, he returned to Salem, where he worked for Loudon Ford, then moved to a position at Ford Motor Company near Cleveland. In 1973, he followed his dream of owning his own car lot, and Ward Motor Sales was born on the corner of State St  and Roosevelt. Many teens and young families found their first cars there, and he prided himself on breaking the stereotype by being an honest used car salesman. He attempted to retire from the car sales business, but was drawn back to work at Donnell Ford, where he finally did retire at age 72. In his free time, he loved to volunteer tinkering on the antique cars at the Salem Historical Society. He was a lifelong member of the Salem United Methodist Church as well as St. John’s United Methodist Church of Winter Haven.

   He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia Duke Swartz Ward, to whom he was married for 28 years, helping her to care for their Busy Acres Christmas tree farm on Franklin Road. He loved nothing better than mowing the fields on his tractor, and continued to do so using controls adapted by his younger brother Jim, despite suffering a stroke in 2016. In 2022, Dick and Pat sold the big farm and retired to a quieter life in Winter Haven, FL to be near to his brothers, and his daughters Margie Ward Rogers (Jim) of Englewood, FL, and Patty Ward Buttram (Jay) of Groveland, FL. He adored his girls, his step children Rebecca (Steve) Chaffin, Debra Vinci, Jeff Swartz; grandchildren Haley, Yvette, Mayra, Hannah, Cameron, Sarah, Jacqueline, Henry, Aisling, Alex, Madeline, and Margot, as well as their seven great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

  He is also survived by his brothers, Ray (Mitzie Theiss) Ward, Jim (Dorothy Emminger) Ward, Walt (Jan Blackburn) Ward, and Nancy (John) Hanna and was thrilled to be able to celebrate the 70th Ward Reunion with his large extended family in Maggie Valley, NC in July of this year. 

  He was known for his kindness, generosity, patience, and subtle sense of humor which continued through his last moments on this earth, surrounded by his wife and daughters. Someone once suggested that he'd make a good pastor, and his response was that there are many ways to serve other than being a minister. His influence will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to have shared part of his life’s path with him. He would want to leave us with these important words, “Don't forget to check your oil!”

  A military burial is planned at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, along with a small family memorial service at a later date.

 In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard Ward may be made to the Salem High School Alumni Association Scholarship program in Salem, OH, the Salem Historical Society, or the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).