James Emerson Ward

James Emerson Ward, husband, father of 3 and grandfather of 5, passed on July 29th in Napa at the age of 83. Born in

Girard, Ohio, on June 20th, 1942, he spent 21 years living around the world as an officer of the United States Navy, then

finally settling in California where he built a construction firm, Sausal Corp., now run by his youngest son, Josh.

Jim was the beloved son of the late Clark Emerson and Hildagard Elizabeth Ward. Jim is survived by one sister,

Claudia Eleanor Sansone, five years his junior, who lives in Napa. We are grateful that Jim and Claudia had 3 months

together prior to his passing to reconnect in a beautiful location.

Jim attended Tod Woods Elementary and Girard High School. An avid sports fan, Jim played basketball and baseball.

At Youngstown State University, he studied Electrical Engineering. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and

played on the fraternity intermural football team.

His first part time job was at the famous Lariccia's Italian Delicatessen in Youngstown. Following college he went to

work for Ohio Bell in Columbus, prior to joining the Navy and attending OCS in the Civil Engineering Officers School.

Jim served two deployments in Viet Nam in the Sea Bee's MCB 10 Battalion as the Assistant Alpha Company

Contractor. Following that: 2 years at Travis AFB, as the Officer in Charge of Construction, where oldest son Jim was

born. Next the family was deployed to Nea Makri Greece, where daughter Paige was born. Jim was the

Public Works and Contracting Officer. Next stop was 3 years as the Public Works Officer at Camp David in the hills of

Maryland, where he worked for both President Nixon and President Ford. Back in California Jim earned his master's

degree in construction management at Cal Berkeley, before being stationed to Mare Island Naval Shipyard and then

2.5 years in Washington DC as XO for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC). While living in

Alexandria VA, his youngest son Josh was born at "The Presidents' Hospital", Bethesda. On to Newport Rhode Island

and the War College, where Jim earned his 2nd master's degree in Strategic Studies. Back to California and his last

positions at Oakland Supply Center and San Bruno Western Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC

West) responsible for the construction and maintenance of Navy facilities in the western United States. When selected

to head back to Washington DC, Jim elected to retire and start his own construction business.

Our hillside property in Lafayette gave him the opportunity to become a grape grower and winemaker. He never

missed a Warrior game; and had traveled with his wife, Leslie, to every continent and most countries in this world.

Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Leslie; sister: Claudia; children: James Hamilton, Paige Leigh and Joshua Lloyd.

Grandchildren: Anaya, Everett, Vander, Jacob and Lucas.

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