Fred E. Ward

DEATH NOTICE

Fred E. Ward, 90, Korean War Veteran, passed away peacefully and lovingly with the staff at Westward Heights Care Center in Lander on February 16, 2023. Cremation was provided by Wind Dancer Funeral Home. A virtual funeral service will be held via Zoom which will be announced to family and friends.

His final resting place and inurnment will be held at a later date at his hometown of Manville.

Obituary of his life will be posted at a later date.

OBITUARY
(Courtesy of May Ellen Smith)

Fred E. Ward, 90, of Riverton, Wyoming passed away peacefully on February 16th, 2023 at Westward Heights Care Center in Lander, Wyoming. Fred was the son of Zeb Washington and Ruth (Hockett) Ward. He was born on July 26, 1932, at the family ranch on Dogie Creek in northern Niobrara County and was raised on the ranch with his two brothers, Grant Robert and Charley Claud, and sister, May Ellen. Another sister, Grace Vera, the first-born, had died in infancy.

Fred attended the O'Shay school just north of the ranch through 4th grade. Then because of lack of students, the school was relocated, and he boarded with local people. Fred would return to the family ranch on holidays and during the summer. From the 7th grade to his junior year, he attended school in Lusk. After his parents moved to Manville, he transferred to Manville High School for his senior year. At his 70th Class Reunion in 2021, he was the only one present.

Fred enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952 and within one year of service, he was accepted in with the Seabees that was attached to the Marine Aircraft wing in South Korea rebuilding airbases, roads, or anything under the sun during the Korean War. In 1956 Fred was honorably discharged from the Navy and settled back home in Manville having been trained by the Seabees to operate all forms of heavy equipment.

On September 28th, 1957, Fred married Ethel Kathryn "Kit" Morris at her parents' home in Lusk, Wyoming. Kit passed way February 8th, 2022. They were married for 64 years, and their marriage was sealed in the Mormon Temple for all time and eternity. They had one daughter, Beth Melinda, born October 9th, 1958 in Lusk, Wyoming. Beth had a son Heath Fred Ward, born November 30th, 1976, in Torrington, Wyoming. At the age of 7 years old, Fred and Kit adopted him.

Fred and Kit's marriage started out in Lusk while Fred operated a salvage company. Fred worked on many construction jobs as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver. It was during his construction days with Lamb and various other employers where he met many lifelong friends. Fred flew to Chicago, Illinois to auctioneer school . This skill allowed him to work and auction off cattle at sales barns in Riverton and Greybull, Wyoming to Brush, Colorado as well as doing private sales. Fred worked at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska with the beef research program for three years. Fred's true passion was to drive a semitruck and to have his own trucking company. 

In 1991 the Wards relocated to Lander, Wyoming where Kit got a job at the local high school as a guidance counselor, and Fred worked for American Laundry. Fred won several safety awards and drove doubles over South Pass without losing a load on icy roads or in treacherous cross winds. In 2009, Fred went  to work for Turner Gas Company alongside his son, Heath, locally hauling propane and then being transferred to North Dakota. Because of health issues, in 2013 at the age of 80, he turned in his keys and retired from trucking.

Family traditions included ten years of trips to various locations in Arizona during spring breaks as well as hosting numerous family reunions during the summers. When the locations of the reunions changed, Fred tried to attend as many as he could. At the June 2022 Ward Reunion in Rolling Hills, Wyoming, he was honored for his upcoming 90th birthday.

Fred is survived by his daughter, Beth Ward, his son, Heath Ward, both of Riverton, Wyoming. Two grandsons, Benjamin Jared and Samuel Lorenzo Ward of California, his sister, May Ellen Smith, of Manville, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife Kit, his grandparents, George Grant Ward and Susan Ellen (Parnell) Ward Wagner, Alvin and Ida May (Linville) Hockett, his parents, Zeb and Ruth Ward, his sister, Grace Vera Ward, his brother Grant, and his wife Ella Marie (Sides) Ward, his brother, Charley, and his wife, Karey (DeHaven) Ward Hongala, his niece, Ruth (Ward) Howe, his brother-in-law,  Raymond Smith, his parents-in-law, Raymond and Deloris Morris, three brothers-in-law, John, Donald, and Richard Morris, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Cremation was provided by Wind Dancer Crematory Services of Lander, Wyoming. A virtual memorial service will be done by the family April 2nd, 2023, MST, via Zoom that will be recorded.

Burial was in Dellview Cemetery in Manville, Wyoming on June 11th, 2023, with a Honor Guard, which included a cousin, Tomas Sherlock, a 21-gun salute and the Navy presenting a flag to his family.

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