Dr. John W. Ward Jr.

Of Durham, N.C., age 78, died Mon., November 28, 2005 at Britthaven of Chapel Hill after a long period of declining health. Dr. Ward was born in Borger, TX, the son of John W. Ward, Sr. and Gladys (Everett) Ward. He grew up in western Kansas near Garden City, and graduated as valedictorian of his class at Garden City High School in 1947. After attending Garden City Junior College, he received his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS in 1950. At Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia (now Emporia State University), Dr. Ward earned an M.S. degree in speech and theater in 1952. He attended seminary at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he earned his B.D. degree in 1955. He later earned a Ph.D. in speech and communication at Northwestern University in 1964. Dr. Ward also studied for a year (1953-54) at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship. It was at the end of this year, on June 18, 1954, that he married Carmen Irene Dressler of Lebo, Kansas in Duddingston Kirk, Edinburgh. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2004. Dr. Ward was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. He pastored rural churches in Kansas while a student and, after being ordained, in Coatesville and Gary, Indiana. For 33 summers (1967-99), he served as summer pastor of the Cuttyhunk Island Union Methodist Church in Massachusetts. As a professor, Dr. Ward taught briefly at Roosevelt University in Chicago, the University of Indiana at Gary, and at McMurry College in Abilene, TX before moving to Massachusetts in 1965 to teach at Boston University School of Theology, where he was Associate Professor of Homiletics, teaching courses in preaching, oral communication, and the experience of prayer. He was a member of the American Academy of Homiletics. In 1970-71, the Ward family, including sons Scott and Mark, spent a sabbatical year in Nairobi, Kenya, where Dr. Ward worked with the National Christian Council of Kenya. He retired in 1995 after 30 years at BUSTH. Dr. Ward was an accomplished violinist and played in the Wellesley (MA) Community Orchestra for many years. In his later years, he enjoyed learning "fiddling" techniques. He enjoyed music, sailing, tennis, reading, travel, telling stories, and time with grandchildren. In 2000, the Wards moved to Durham, NC, where they became active in the Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement and at Resurrection United Methodist Church. Dr. Ward is survived by his wife, Carmen, and sons Scott and Mark, all of Durham; three grandchildren, Shanna, Sage, and Spencer, also of Durham; a sister, June Ward Jennison and her husband, Ken, of Salina, KS, as well as nieces and nephews, other extended family, and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 3, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Resurrection United Methodist Church in Durham, followed by a reception where friends may greet the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of John to Resurrection United Methodist Church, 4705 Old Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707; or to Christ Church United Methodist, Wellesley, MA 02481; or to Cuttyhunk Union Methodist Church, Cuttyhunk Island, MA 02713. Arrangements are by Hall-Wynne Funeral Home in DURHAM, NC.