Henderson Ward

Family-Placed Death Notice

WARD, Henderson HENDERSON CRAWFORD WARD Henderson Crawford Ward, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech, died October 4, 2008 in Atlanta after a long illness. Dr. Ward was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on September 16, 1922, the son of Charles O. and Jane Crawford Ward and great grandson of Theodore F. Klutz, 3-term member of the U.S. Congress representing the 8th District of North Carolina. He attended Catawba College in Salisbury for one year before going to Naval Preflight School in Pensacola. He was commissioned as an officer and served as an instrument flight instructor in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. As a Lieutenant at the Naval Air Base in Atlanta, he met Rebekah Scott Candler. On June 14, 1945, they were married at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, where they remained life-long members. He served as an Elder of the church. Dr. Ward received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1948. He worked as a chemical engineer for Carbide and Carbide Chemicals Corporation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, before returning to Georgia Tech for graduate work. In 1952, he received a master's degree in mathematics and in 1953, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. He was employed as a chemical engineer for Ethyl Corporation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until 1954. Dr. Ward returned to Georgia Tech as a professor of chemical engineering and research associate at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Professor Ward was named Teacher of the Year in chemical engineering on several occasions and Teacher of the Year Institute-wide in 1983. In 1963, he was elected as a trustee of the Georgia Tech National Alumni Association. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi Honorary Society and long-time faculty advisor for the student chapter. He served many terms as an advisory member of the Georgia Tech YMCA board. He retired as professor emeritus of chemical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1985. He was elected, in September 1992, a fellow in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In 2003, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Engineering Hall of Fame. He co-authored a book, A Century of Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech, published in 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Ruth Hess and Jane Ward, both of Salisbury, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife Rebekah, his three sons and their wives, Henderson Crawford Ward, Jr. (Barbara) of La Grange, Illinois, Candler Symmes Ward (Debbie) of Ballground, Ga,. and Charles Scott Ward (Lisa) of Atlanta. He was a loving and beloved grandfather to Catherine Lawrence Ward (Juan Villafane); Henderson Crawford Ward III; Marsha Rebekah Ward; Marion Dana Ward; Charles Scott Ward, Jr.; Elizabeth Marshall Ward; Rebekah Candler Ward; and Rachel Lawrence Ward. He is also survived by his sister Carol Ward Thomas of Springfield, Va. and his daughter-in-law Diane Ward. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Georgia Tech Foundation in Honor of Henderson C. Ward. The Henderson C. Ward Endowment is established in the school of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332. The endowment recognizes Dr. Ward's many contributions to the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Gifts may also be made to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree St. Atlanta, GA, 30309. Service will be held Tuesday, October 7 at 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Reception following at the church.