Jack Ward, 90, of Vancouver, Washington passed away on April 21 surrounded by his family. Jack was born to Carl and Mary Ward of Battle Ground, Washington on Feb. 20, 1935. He attended Battle Ground Schools leaving before graduating to enlist in the US Navy during the Korean War. It was while on leave that Jack met the love of his life, Louise Haines. Jack and Louise became engaged three weeks after meeting and were married three months later on May 31, 1953. This union lasted 67 years until Louise’s passing in 2020.
After his Navy discharge, Jack returned to Battle Ground and worked a variety of jobs before deciding to go back to school to earn a degree that would lead to a more lasting career. He attended Clark College and earned his high school diploma simultaneously with an Associates Degree in Applied Science, graduating top of his class. Soon after, Jack was hired as a Radar Technician with the Federal Aviation Administration. This career took his growing family to many places. They lived in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado before settling back in Battle Ground. Jack went to work at Portland International Airport and stayed there until his retirement. However, retirement didn’t last and after a brief hiatus, Jack went back to work for Lockheed Martin until he truly felt he was ready to make retirement permanent. Family always came first and foremost for Jack. When grandchildren came along he was a steadfast presence at all of their events. He particularly enjoyed the sporting events his one and only grandson participated in, but was just as proud of his seven granddaughters’ talents, athletic or otherwise. Jack loved to read and enjoyed movies, but watching sports was his favorite (especially the Sounders and Seahawks).
In his later years, he and Louise moved to Ocean Park, Washington where he enjoyed the slow pace of life and sitting in his chair looking through their large picture window at the beautiful ocean. When Louise became ill, they relocated to Van Mall Retirement where Jack lived until his passing. There are many words that could be used to describe Jack - strong, hard working, stubborn, sarcastic, ornery, devoted. The truth is, he was a perfect combination of all these things, in a way that made him impossible to forget and even harder not to love. He didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, he didn’t need to. You knew you were loved because he showed up every single day, no matter how tough things got. He worked tirelessly and never complained. When it came to providing and protecting, he was unwavering.
Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty “Louise” Ward, parents Carl and Mary Ward, brother Roy Ward and granddaughter Kelsey Taylor. He will be forever missed by daughters Vickie (Randy) Hagedorn, Debbie Ward, Lorilee (Bob) Marshall, and Carla (Brian) Hurst as well as his eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, the last one entering this world at the same hour Jack departed it. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 24 at 1 p.m. at Barberton Grange, 9400 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lymphoma Foundation of America at www.lymphomahelp.org or 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
