Barbara Lee Ward

1949 - 2022

GREAT VALLEY - Barbara Lee Ward, 72, of 6123 Fairview Lane, died suddenly on Thursday (Oct. 20, 2022) at home, in Great Valley.

Born Nov. 5, 1949, in Washington, Pa., she was the daughter of Paul E. Boles and Frances V. (Fulton) Boles. On July 26, 1980, in St. Bonaventure Chapel, St. Bonaventure, she married Mark J. Ward, who survives.

Mrs. Ward lived in Washington and Marietta, Ohio before moving to Tonawanda.

Mrs. Ward graduated from Sweet Home High School and received her bachelor of art degree from Buffalo State College (1971), a master's degree from Buffalo State and continued graduate studies at the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State.

Mrs. Ward started her teaching career in a preschool program and then as an elementary art teacher with the Lancaster Central School. From 1978 to 1979, she taught 7th to 12th grade art at Ellicottville Central School. The remainder of her teaching career, 1979 to 2010, was spent at Randolph Central School, where she taught 7th to 12th grade art.

She instilled in her students her love of photography and also served as the yearbook advisor for over 15 years. She retired on June 30, 2010.

She truly loved traveling and had been all over Europe. She was particularly drawn to Siena, Italy, where she lived in college and visited many times.

Mrs. Ward and her husband enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., including California, Florida, New York City and Hawaii, to Italy, Ireland, Israel, Jerusalem, the Holy Land, England, Scotland, Paris, France, Netherland, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Mrs. Ward truly enjoyed her time in Florida at her place in Venice, Fla.

In her retirement, Mrs. Ward was an active member of the Salamanca Quilting Group as well as the Venice Area Quilters Guild, where she made many quilts for family and friends; Holy Name of Mary Altar & Rosary Society, where she served as treasurer; Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority International; Beta Epsilon teacher's organization; a season ticket holder at Shea's for over 20 years; member of the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ellicottville; member of NYS Retired Teachers Association; University of Buffalo Women's Club.

As a master gardener and member of the Salamanca Garden Club, she was very active in planning programs and developing her own flower gardens, planters and assortment of perennials.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, Mark, is a son, Justin M. Ward of Allegany; a daughter, Venessa L. (Jay) Guffey of North Hollywood, Calif.; her mother-in-law, Virginia Ward of Great Valley; cousins, Jackie Sherman of Ocean View, Del. (Ian, Katie, and Colin Sherman), Frank Boles of Willowick, Ohio; (Frankie Boles III, Sherry Sweeny, Jennifer Boles, Candice Boles and Laura Boles); a brother-in-law, Stephen Ward and his wife Bridget of Great Valley; and niece, Brenna (Joseph) Stoelting of Akron.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 25, 2022) at O'Rourke & O'Rourke, Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River St., Salamanca, and from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 27, 2022) in Holy Name of Mary Church, 22 Jefferson St., Ellicottville, with Father Patrick Melfi, pastor, as celebrant.

Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Ellicottville.

The family encourages donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.