Robert E. Ward

Obituary - COLWICH - Robert Eugene Ward, 90, retired accountant, died March 5, 2015, in his home in Colwich, KS.  Memorial service, 11 a.m., Monday, March 9, at Pratt Presbyterian Church in Pratt, KS.  Committal service, 11 a.m., Saturday, March 21, Fairview Cemetery, Goff, KS.  Robert was born on March 12, 1924, in Keota, CO to the late John Robert and Ethel Alice (Tibbets) Ward.  On April 19, 1947, he married Lucy Leslie in Topeka, KS; she preceded him in death February, 21, 2013.  Robert and Lucy moved to Pratt after their marriage and raised their children there before moving to Colwich in 2004.  Preceded in death by brothers, Lawrence, Ralph, John "Jack", Earl and Harley.  He is survived by daughters, Debbie Musgrave (Bill) of Carbondale and Deanna Milleville (Tim) of Wichita; son, Bryan Ward (Crystal) of Colwich; brothers, Norman "Keith" Ward ( Beverly) of Osawatomie and Chester Ward (June) of Excelsior Springs, MO; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren.  Memorials may  be made to American Red Cross Blood Donation, 1900 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS  67214 or Pratt County 4-H, 824 W. 1st, Pratt, KS  67124.

 

Robert Eugene Ward was born on March 12, 1924 to John Robert and Ethel Alice (Tibbets) Ward.    He was the 5th of 8 sons:  Lawrence, Ralph, John W. (Jack), Earl, Harley, Chester and Norman Keith.  He was born in Keota, Colorado.  The family moved often during his youth, living in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Montana.  Times were hard, and work was hard to find, but the family stayed together and managed to raise and educate 8 sons.  Bob graduated from high school in 1943.  After working on his father’s Farm for the summer, he went to work for the Great Western Sugar Company in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  He was injured on the job sustaining a compound fracture and spent the next nine months on crutches.  In the winter of 1944-45, Bob went to California and worked in the shipyards as an apprentice pipe-fitter.

In April, 1947, Bob married Lucy Leslie in Topeka, Kansas.  They met while attending Strickler’s Business College in Topeka, and both felt they needed all the education they could get, so they continued their education by attending night school at Washburn University.  Bob worked for Forbes Air Base, Hills Packing Company and the Federal Government in Records Storage at the Air Base in Topeka. 

In February, 1952, their first daughter, Debbie, was born in Topeka.  In the spring of 1952, Bob was contacted by Director Dave Leahy of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission offering him a job as the agency accountant.  He accepted the position and the family moved to Pratt, Kansas.   They lived in one of the houses on the grounds of the Fish and Game Commission where there was usually a family Labrador and various cats.  In 1959, their second daughter, Deanna was born and in 1962 their son, Bryan, was born. 

Bob was always involved in various community activities and loved to garden, bowl, fish and hunt.  He instilled the importance of education, honesty, community service and most of all belief in God.  The family attend the Pratt Presbyterian Church throughout their years in Pratt and many of those years, Bob was Financial Secretary for the church.  He loved going to his children’s activities:  sports, school, 4-H, church, and music.  Education was very important to Bob, and he and Lucy put all three children through college.  He loved to bowl and was in several men’s leagues and in a couples’ league with his wife, Lucy.  He was also involved in the Red Cross, Kiwanis, Masonic Lodge, County Blood Bank, 4-H Community Leader, and the VITA Program.  

In 1969, Bob and Lucy purchased a home on the West side of Pratt with 2 acres.  Bob expanded his vegetable garden and fenced off an area for a horse.  He loved working outside in his free time, gardening, taking care of the various horses, cows, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, snakes and turtles the family acquired while living on West River Road.   

In 1979, Bob purchased an accounting firm in Pratt, where he “moonlighted” evenings and weekends.  Lucy managed the business until his retirement from Fish and Game.  After his retirement he worked full time at the accounting firm until they sold the business in 1990.  Bob continued with community service and began managing the Walnut Grove Apartment Complex in Pratt following the sale of the accounting firm. 

Both Bob and Lucy loved to travel, and in 1991 made a trip to Europe, touring Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria.  The Europe trip was the highlight of all their travels.  Along with the trip to Europe, Bob and Lucy travelled to Canada, and throughout the United States, especially Colorado.

Family was very important to Bob.  Grandchildren began arriving in 1985 and each and every one of those 12 children were greatly loved.  One of the greatest joys of his life was attending grandchildren’s activities up to and including college sports and graduation.  In addition to the 12 grandchildren, there are now 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. 

Living in Pratt for many years, Bob and Lucy had made many friends.  However, in October, 2004, Bob and Lucy moved to Colwich, Kansas due to Lucy’s health and to be nearer to their children.  Bob continued gardening and was able to attend more of his grandchildren’s activities and make new friends, all while keeping in contact with their Pratt friends.  They moved next door to Bryan and greatly enjoyed going to all the school activities and sporting events.  In 2013, Bob lost the love of his life, Lucy.  He kept busy with his yard work, garden and grandchildren, but greatly missed Lucy.  They are together now in heaven and will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  We love you Bob, Dad, and Grandpa.