Frank J. Ward

Frank J. Ward, 90, of St. Joseph passed away January 13, 2010 at the Whitcomb Towers. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Robert Confer officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Bridgman with Military Rites conducted by Coloma American Legion Post #362, VFW Post #1137 of Benton Harbor, and VFW Post #6803 of Watervliet. Friends may call from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 15, 2009 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Berrien County Historical Society or to Lakeland Hospital Volunteer Association. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.stark-menchinger.com. Mr. Ward was born December 1, 1919 in St. Joseph to Frank D. & Mary M. (Morrison) Ward. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1939 and joined the United States Naval Reserves shortly afterward. On November 23, 1941, he married the former Dorothy “Dottie” Smith-Turner in Benton Harbor. Frank made the Navy his career, serving during WWII in the Atlantic Theater, the Pacific Theater, and the North African Invasion. He retired on December 1, 1979 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer after serving as the USNR 13th District Recruiting Officer. Frank was a member of the Benton Harbor Elks Lodge #544, and avid Bridge player, and was currently the President of the Camelot Condominium Association. He was a long-time volunteer at Lakeland Hospital Emergency Room, retiring only last summer. Mr. Ward is survived by his brother Jack (Lois) Ward of St. Joseph, his sister Nora Ward of St. Joseph; three nephews-Keith (Deb) Ward of St. Joseph, Kevin (Ellen) Ward of Waleska, GA, Kerry Ward of Chicago; and his niece Barbara Williams of Miami, FL. He was preceded in death by his wife Dottie on September 4, 2001, his sister Mary Jane Ingleright in April 4, 1979, and his infant brother Dean Ward on December 24, 1914.