Donald E. Ward's Obituary
Donald Earl Ward, 98, of Gold Beach passed away peacefully tended by hospice at Manor Care Nursing Home in Gig Harbor, WA after a brief stay at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. Though weak, he managed to smile and greet most all of his beloved family and several dear friends.
Don was born in Seattle and attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington studying Engineering. He married Madge Elizabeth Hodges and raised three sons. Though work took him many places in the US, the Northwest was the home they came back to and he worked at Boeing and most proudly on the B-17. After leaving Boeing, he and Beth developed and
managed Christmas Village, a retirement mobile home village in Shelton and then finally when they decided to retire themselves, designed and built their home on Vashon Island. Their middle son, Don and his wife were living on the island and their sons, Jim and Bob also moved to the island where they still reside. Beth passed in 2001 and during her long illness, Don spent the days playing music and looking through all the albums he had assembled for her. Don is survived by his three sons, James Arthur, Donald Edward and Robert Phillip, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Don whose light, beautiful touch on the piano always brought pleasure to his family and friends also sang in a Barber Shop Quartet and Beth in Sweet Adelines. They always sang in church choirs including here on Vashon at the Lutheran Church.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held on November 7th at 11:30, at Vashon Lutheran Church with a luncheon reception at the fellowship hall. There will be music, a barbershop quartet and a pictorial memorial. Flowers or gifts to the Alzheimer’s Association will be welcomed.
Don’s ashes will be mixed with Beth’s and given to the water’s of Puget Sound
in front of their home in full view of Mt. Rainier later in the spring.
Please share your memories of Donald and condolences to the family by visiting the tribute wall.
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