William T. “Bill” Ward, 60, of Cornelius and a former Baker City resident, died Monday, April 14, 2003, at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland.
Memorial services were held Thursday, April 17, 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro. The staff of Fir Lawn Mortuary in Hillsboro were in charge of the cremation arrangements.
Mr. Ward was born the youngest and only son of Guy M. and Lyla (Montgomery) Ward on Aug. 7, 1942, in Dayton, Wash. He grew up in Hood River where he graduated from high school and then attended college at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton for a time as well as Portland Community College.
United in marriage to Denice Packard, Dec. 28, 1964, in Hermiston, the couple made their home in Baker City for a number of years before moving to La Grande in 1972, where he worked for Terry Industries. Following the plant shutdown, the family moved to Boardman in 1978 when he went to work for PGE as a mechanic there in 1980. His work with PGE brought the family to Hillsboro in 1988 and since 1999, they have lived in Cornelius.
While living in La Grande, Mr. Ward was an active member of the Jaycee’s serving as Vice President for a term and was also named Spokesman of the Year while a member. He also coached Little League. He especially enjoyed the work for and with disabled children.
An avid rock collector, he is a past president of the Hat Rock Hounds. A CB radio operator, he was known as “Super Duck,” and his wife, Denice, was known as “Mama Duck.”
In addition to his other hobbies, he also enjoyed camping, loved to fish, enjoyed photography and had taken photography classes at Portland Community College. He also loved golf, enjoyed watching televised sports and when he was younger enjoyed rafting and participation in some organized raft races, which included building a raft. His favorite reading included Tom Clancy’s books, but most of all, he enjoyed his family. He attended church both at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Cornelius and Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro.
Survivors include his wife, Denice Ward of Cornelius; daughter and her husband, Teresa and Warren Klinkenberg of Hillsboro; daughter, Jennifer Ward of Cornelius; son, Scott Ward of Cornelius; and eight grandchildren.
An infant brother, and his two sisters, Guyla Herrick and Ida Mae Hardman, preceded him in death.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to either the Diabetes Foundation or to the Kidney Foundation.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, April, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor