Barbara A. Ward

1947 - 2025

Barbara A. Ward

October 16, 1947 - October 2, 2025

Barbara A. Ward, 77, of Bettendorf, passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport.

Barb was born on October 16, 1947, in Pleasant Valley, Iowa, to Edward VanAlstine and Mary Fort. She graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 1965. On December 11, 1966, she married David Ward and later married Dean McCrea on October 31, 2008.

Barb worked for the Bettendorf School District for 25 years prior to her retirement in 2015. During those years, she served in several roles including librarian, administrative secretary, and IT assistant.

Barb enjoyed reading, working outdoors, and tending to her garden, which was once accidentally mistaken as a featured garden in a local garden walk. She was an avid fan of Hallmark movies and was well known for her deviled eggs and "Ma Ward Crackers." The labor of making those crackers was eventually outsourced to her husband, Dean, and subsequently (and scandalously) renamed "Grampa Dean Crackers." More recently, she began referring to her "famous" sheet cake, which came as news to her sons, none of whom could recall her ever making one in their lifetimes.

Despite having raised 4 mildly mischievous boys, she remained trusting and susceptible to their various pranks. It's well known that she was once convinced to take a bite out of a plastic starfish at her nephew's wedding, yet even that never caused her to waver in her love for her boys. She was also famous for stubbing her toe, affectionately known as "pulling a Grandma Barb," and she never missed an opportunity to correct someone's grammar.

Barb's favorite things in life were spending time with her family, caring for her dogs, and watching Hallmark movies. She will be remembered for her kindness, quick sense of humor, and the way she always put others first.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Dean McCrea of Bettendorf; her sons, David (Diane) Ward of LeClaire, Scott (Angela) Ward of Bettendorf, Chad (Rachel) Ward of Cambridge, England, and Jason (Lindsay) Ward of Des Moines; seven grandchildren, Seth Ward, Delaney Ward, Luke Ward, Sydney Ward, Everly Ward, Emma Kelly, and Seth Kelly; and her siblings, Nancy (Pat) Walsh, Randy (Lori) VanAlstine, and Kevin Mann.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edward; her mother, Mary; her first husband, David; and a beloved grandson, Eli Ward.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 16th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. A celebration of Barb's life will follow from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at McManus Park, Bettendorf.

In honor of Barb's lifelong love of animals, memorials may be directed to King's Harvest Pet Rescue No-Kill Shelter in Davenport. Online condolences may be shared with Barb's family at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.