Roland Douglas Ward

1947 - 2019

STEVENSVILLE - Roland Douglas ("Doug") Ward, of Stevensville, MD, passed away on January 5, 2019, at Compass Regional Hospice in Centreville, MD, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 71.
Born on Jan. 16, 1947, in Annapolis, MD, he was the son of the late William Thomas and Gloria Phipps Ward. Doug graduated from Annapolis High School, class of 1965, where he was a pitcher on the varsity baseball team for three years. At age 19, he fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a professional baseball player by signing a contract with the Baltimore Orioles by veteran Orioles Scout Walter Youse. An early injury ended his career, and he began working for Katcef Brother's as a beer and wine distributor for over 30 years.
Following retirement in 2004, Doug's hobby for perfecting the perfect barbecue took off, and he started It's the Pit's Barbeque and Seafood in a food truck off of Route 8 by Waterman Joe's. The business later expanded into a takeout/catering business in Stevensville, MD, and closed due to his illness in April 2018. Besides barbecue, he loved fishing and his Baltimore Orioles.
Doug is survived by his wife, Lynnette M. Rowlands Ward, of Stevensville, MD; sons: William Thomas Murray Ward (Melissa), of Erwin, TN; Ronnie Lee Bunch Jr,. of Stevensville, MD; daughters: Alexis McEvoy Orr (Nicholas Leeds), of Fayetteville, NC; Kaitlyn Kyger, of Blacksburg, VA; as well as five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
A memorial service will be held on Jan. 11, 4 p.m., at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., in Chester, MD, where friends and family may visit beginning one hour prior.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617, for their loving and compassionate care of Doug.
Online condolences may be made at: www.fhnfuneralhome.com.