Ward Farnsworth

Ward Farnsworth, 83, died at home in Winnetka on December 3, 2014. The cause was complications from congestive heart failure. Ward was born on March 28, 1931, the son of Eber Ward and Mary Meyering Farnsworth. He grew up in Libertyville and Lake Forest and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University. Following two years in the Marine Corps, he obtained a law degree from the University of Chicago. His career spanned more than three decades at The First National Bank of Chicago, heading up the Personal Trust Division, Private Clients Group, and Fiduciary Services. He served for many years as a Director and Treasurer of the Chicago Bar Foundation and Jobs for Youth, and was also a long-serving board member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Winnetka. Ward was an avid hiker and reader. Over the years he hiked hundreds of peaks in the Adirondacks, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the Green Mountains of Vermont; he often said that he could be happy with nothing more than a pair of hiking boots and a library card. At various points in his life he was also an aficionado of military history, motorcycles, well-made firearms, and 1920's jazz. He was, above all, a man of the highest integrity, and a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He leaves his wife, Jean (nee Magoun), of fifty-five years, their three children, Mary (Reid) Marsh of Hong Kong, Lucy (Jack) Taylor of Norwich, Vermont, and Ward Jr. (Janet) of Austin, Texas, and nine grandchildren: Henry, Margaret, Charlie, Clayton, and Freddy Marsh, Franklin and Nora Taylor, and Annie and Sam Farnsworth; and his sister Ann (Ricardo) Mestres of New York. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 22, 3 PM, at Christ Church, 784 Sheridan Road in Winnetka. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W Ann Lurie Place, Chicago 60632 (chicagofoodbank.org), or the Salvation Army would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Cremation Society of Illinois. For info 800-622-8358.