Robert Emmett Ward

Robert Emmett Ward obituary, Jacksonville, FL

Robert Emmett Ward

Robert Ward Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Apr. 24, 2024.
Robert Emmett Ward, 89, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. Born August 20, 1934 in Washington, D.C., Bob graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Maryland in 1953. After attending The University of Maryland briefly, he joined the Army and served his country from 1955 to 1957. After moving to Florida, he met the love of his life Rita Cramer, and they married June 21, 1960. He graduated from Florida State University in 1962 with a degree in Accounting, beginning a long and successful career as an internal auditor serving Duval County, where he and Rita resided for over 62 years. Bob was an active member of the St. John's Austin Healy Club and the Riverside Avondale Preservation Society, where he made numerous life-long friends. In his later years he enjoyed attending Silver Sneakers at the YMCA, and because he never met a stranger, he had a tight-knit group of friends there as well. He was an impressive and avid golfer most of his life. When he was no longer found on the course, he could still be found frequenting local antique stores, thrift stores, and garage sales. Bob was always negotiating a good deal, and his vast collection of treasures at both homes in Ponte Vedra Beach and Murphy, North Carolina is a testament to his unique and impressive style. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Desmond Joseph Ward and Francis Dunnington Ward, his sister, Barbara Hess, and his son-in-law, Scott Collings. He is survived by his wife, Rita Ward, and daughters, Marie Ward, Jenny Ward Malone, Karen Ward Trammell (Bill), and his 8 beloved grandchildren, Georgia Ward-Collings, Cramer Ward-Collings, Ellis Ward-Collings, Chip Malone, Charlotte Malone, Ivy Malone, Emmie Trammell, and Claire Trammell. Bob was known for his charming personality and great sense of humor, and everyone who met him was instantly drawn to him. He lived an honorable life, but most importantly he lived a life filled with love. He loved his wife and his daughters incredibly much, and that love only grew with the addition of each grandchild, creating the family he was so proud of and adored. His smile and vibrance will be missed by his family and his community, but his presence is still felt in the places he cherished most, that of the ocean and the mountains. His family has honored his final wish to have his body donated to science for medical research, where he will continue to impact lives. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brown's family YMCA: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/f/4r6o/n?vid=154

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Bill Trammell

April 24, 2024

So many memories of my father-in-law. One memory I absolutely cherish is he & I sharing a glass of wonderful Scotch in a small, hole-in-the-wall pub in Shannon, Ireland. Godspeed Papa!

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