Frank Ward Obituary
A native of Greenville County, South Carolina, son of the late Jesse Frank and Edith Stewart Ward, he served in the United States Marine Corp for four years and served with the Greenville City Police Department for over forty years and retired as a Sergeant in 1999. Frank worked with the American Legion where he served for decades as a member of the Legion Media and Communications Division; served as elected commander of the Legion Department of South Carolina from 1999 until 2000. He worked with the American Legion Baseball for over thirty years, served as a coach many years with the Sevier Youth Association, and was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church.
Frank's greatest passion was growing things and passing on the legacy of farming to his children, grandchildren and many others. He loved to communicate and teach and if you ever met him even once, you knew his gift of talking.
Surviving are his wife, Patricia Haynie Ward of the home; one daughter, LeDayne M. Polaski (Tom) of Charlotte, North Carolina; four sons, Dean Ward (Barbara) of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Regan Ward (Dana) of Cowpens, South Carolina, Jay Ward of Greenville, South Carolina, and Duane Stenzinger (Sarah) of Simpsonville, South Carolina; one sister, Geneva Jones of Greer, South Carolina; nine grandchildren, Phillip Ward, Daniel Ward, Jessica Ward, Jody Ward, Kate Polaski, J.J. Ward, Ryan Stenzinger, Carlos Stenzinger and Russell Stenzinger; several great and great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Taylors, South Carolina.
Visitation will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Brushy Creek Baptist Church following the service.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Harold Jennings Foundation, Greenville Police Department, 204 Halton Road, Suite 600, Greenville, SC 29607 or Goodfellows Program, c/o American Legion Post 3, 430 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601.
Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
David Harrison
February 3, 2026
Regan and the family,
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Ward.
I met Frank while with my Dad (SCHP Retired) at the LEC back in the 70´s and through the 80´s.
Frank was something!
Once I was a veteran, Frank would always bring up the American Legion and all the reason to be in the organization. I am a proud member of American Legion due to gentlemen like Frank, my Dad, and my amazing uncles who served in WW 2.
His dedication to the Greenville and Greer community is legendary.
I worked with Regan and Frank at American Security which continued the times of seeing each other and catching up.
Always a Marine, a police officer, a husband, a Dad, a grandfather, a coach, a mentor, a farmer, and a person you could count on.
His memory will continue through his family and the lives he touched.
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