Leslie Merle Ward (1922-2008)

WARD

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/23/2008 at 22:06:56

Leslie Merle Ward, Jr., 85, loving husband, father and grandfather, died Saturday, January 19, 2008, in Concord, N.C.

Les was born July 5, 1922, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was the son of Olga Hansen Ward and Leslie Merle Ward, Sr. He attended Council Bluffs schools and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1940. Les married Dorothy Dorn on December 30, 1942, in Spokane, Wash. They were the parents of three children. The couple recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Les served his country in the U.S. Air Corps during World War II. Following the war, Les attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he earned a degree in engineering. Les had a successful career with both, Northern Natural Gas Company in Omaha, Neb., and Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his job and family, Les was active in his community volunteering in numerous leadership roles at the Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs. He also served as one of the founding members of the Board of Directors of Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Upon retirement, Les and Dot returned to Iowa and spent several years in West Des Moines, where they were active members of the West Des Moines United Methodist Church. Since 2002 the couple has resided in Davidson, North Carolina, and in Taylor Glen in Concord, North Carolina.

Leslie Merle Ward was preceded in death by his parents, Olga Hansen Ward and Leslie Merle Ward Sr. and his granddaughter, Megan Elizabeth Howard.

Les is survived by his wife, Dorothy Dorn Ward of Concord, North Carolina, and by three children and their spouses: Richard Ward and Martha Capps of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Kathleen and Clifford Paulsen of Davidson, North Carolina and Diane and Charles Howard of Bedford, Texas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; Brett Paulsen and his wife, Bernadette and their children, Kathryn and Luke, Gregg Paulsen and Diane Paulsen, all of North Carolina; Andrew Howard and Ben Howard of Texas; and Casteel O'Byrne and Ellen O'Byrne of Minnesota. He is also survived by his brother, Russell Ward of Wheatridge, Colorado.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. A private burial will be held prior to the service. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.

Published in The Daily Nonpareil from 1/22/2008 - 1/23/2008.