Susan Roberta WARD

Susan R. (Farrington) Ward, a long-time resident of the Central Florida area, died Saturday, March 18, 2017, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Born in 1938 in Goshen, Indiana, Susan grew up in this quaint mid-western suburb until the family moved to Sarasota, Florida. She worked as a window dresser for a local department store and later with a modeling agency, where she competed and was first runner up in the Miss Sarasota Pageant in the early 50’s. She married Frank Ward, a musician and artist in the late 50’s and they spent their first year on the road touring across the country with “The Characters”, a jazz band with a comedic flair. They later settled into Central Florida where Susan became a stay-at-home mom, scouting mom and powwow mom and began her long journey into learning Native American culture and arts. She later chose a career in the hospitality industry and served as the Executive Housekeeper for resorts across Florida and in St. Thomas, USVI before she retired.

Susan was an amazing artist and craftsman. She was an accomplished painter, jewelry maker, “rock hound”, finger-weaver, quilter and her love of Native American culture and art even took her on a path of learning to process and tan hides, which she did for profit for a local trader for many years. She also loved to cook and loved making artisan breads and baked goods and “jamming” fresh strawberries and blueberries picked by hand in Oviedo where she lived for the last 13 years. Susan LOVED gardening and working in the yard. She loved to grow food and flowers and anything else she could find to grow. She was at her happiest with hands in the dirt!

Susan was a graceful, elegant and generous soul and who was always "mom" to everyone. She will live on through everyone she touched and leaves a legacy of care, compassion and creativity.

She is survived by son, Arhmand (Bodie) Ward, Thermopolis, WY and daughters, Jill Ward Gomez and Noelle Susan Ward, both in Oviedo, FL and her grandchildren, the twins, Cameron and Susan Gomez.

Memorial gifts may be made in her name, Susan R. Ward, to:

http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-now

Pulmonary Fibrosis is an uncommon disease for which there is little research dollars and no cure. So a donation now might save someone in the future… who knows?!?

OR

http://www.ourm.org/givenow/

The Orlando Rescue Mission has been a staple in downtown way before there was a Coalition or other groups trying to help the homeless. My mom was passionate about helping those less fortunate and this is a good local charity.