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In Loving Memory of John Oliver Ward Kansas City, Missouri |
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In Loving Memory of John Oliver Ward Kansas City, Missouri |
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Born July 17, 1914 died January 6, 2004
Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 10, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1441 NE Englewood Rd., Kansas City, MO 64118.
Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer's Sons White Chapel, 6600 N. Antioch, Gladstone, MO. |
John
Ward was born in Peace Valley, Missouri
on July 17, 1914 to Olive P. and Helen
Virginia Ward. He died January 6, 2004
at the North Kansas City Hospital. The
funeral service was held on Saturday,
January 10 at the Northminster
Presbyterian Church, with burial at
White Chapel Memorial Gardens in
Gladstone, Missouri.
He moved to St. Joseph, Missouri with his parents about 1916 and lived there until 1941, then in Overland, Missouri from 1941 until 1944, and in Kansas City, Missouri for the remainder of his life. In St. Joseph, MO, he met and married Fern Ruth Frank of St. Joseph on May 14, 1941, a marriage that lasted for the rest of his life. He graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri and attended St. Joseph Junior College, St. Louis University, and the University of Kansas City. He was employed in St. Joseph by the St. Joseph Power company as a Meter Tester and as a Power Station Operator from 1933 until 1941. He worked for the U. S. Weather Bureau in St. Louis and Kansas City from 1941 until 1948, initially as a weather observer at the St. Louis airport, and later installing and maintaining weather instruments throughout the 5th region (Nebraska and bordering states). From 1948 until 1975 he worked for International Business Machines Corporation in Kansas City as a Customer Engineer and Technical Specialist. John loved to travel, visiting all 50 states as well as the Middle East, Norway, and Costa Rica. He climbed both Longs Peak and Pikes Peak in Colorado, and made two float trips through the Grand Canyon in dories. He was a "rock hound", picking up interesting rocks on his trips, some which he later cut, polished, and made into jewelry. John was a devout Christian; a member and Elder of the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. John was a leader in the adult Sunday School Class and was easily recognized by the Bible he always carried to worship services. He was a long time member of the American Radio Relay League and a member of the Amateur Radio Club. He was a former member of the Ozark Wilderness Waterways Canoe Club, and made a number of float trips on Missouri rivers with the club . John loved woodworking and a beautiful dining table in his home attests to this superb craftsmanship. In more recent years he was a member of the Northland Camera Club and a member of the Northnet Computer Club. He is survived by his wife, Fern; one daughter, Anita Katherine and her husband Joseph M. Dorton of Lombard, IL; one sister, Helen Vance of St. Joseph, MO; two brothers-in-law, Harold O. Frank and his wife Lillian of N. Plainfield, NJ, and Charles L. Frank of St. Joseph, MO; two sisters-in-law, Lila Lee Frank of St. Joseph, MO and Marjorie McCullough and her husband Hugh of St. Joseph, MO, one nephew and seven nieces. (Note - John anticipated death and prepared for it to come. He wrote an article with the heading "To be read at my memorial service", It was read and therefore is made a part of this memorial to his memory.) "What a privilege it has been to live in this era of history! In transportation, from the horse and buggy days (yes, a horse and buggy was the family transportation in 1928), to jet planes and a moon landing. In Chemistry, medicine, electronics , and other sciences, equally mind-boggling advances have been made, and whole new sciences created. The Lord must have been grieved at my transgressions and , in 1948, I found that his forgiveness was great enough to forgive all of them. I have loved my wife, my family, my many friends, I have loved life and loved adventure. I have been privileged to experience many adventures, floating through the Grand Canyon, climbing Long's Peak, canoeing in the Everglades and the boundary waters canoe area of the Canadian border, to visit the Middle East, cruise around Norway, visit Costa Rica, and all the fifty states. And now I am about to enter the greatest adventure of all; one that will last an eternity. It is my hope that you will share this adventure with me." |
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This page affectionately dedicated by The Northnet Computer Club Northminster Presbyterian Church
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