DeForest "Bill" Ward's Obituary
DeForest William “Bill” Ward, 90, of Lorain, passed away Thursday, February 25, 2016 at his residence while under the care of New Life Hospice.
Born March 4, 1925 in Harrison, Ohio, he grew up in Mitiwanga, Ohio. Bill attended Oberlin College and was in the V-12 unit which trained at Columbia University. He then served in the US Navy during World War II with the Atlantic Submarine Fleet. In 1946, after serving in the Navy he attended and graduated from Ohio State University.
Bill worked at Monsanto in Dayton and also taught in Berlin Heights. He then began his career at BF Goodrich where he worked in Research and Development as a Chemist retiring in 1984.
He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Lorain, and the Amvets Post 22 of Vermilion. He enjoyed playing clarinet in the band Raz, Dva, Tre. He also was devoted to his family and enjoyed reading, gardening and woodworking.
Surviving is his wife, Delaine (nee Royhab); daughters, Nancy (Gary) Cornthwaite and Elizabeth Kahoilua; grandchildren Maggie and Ted Kahoilua; and a great granddaughter, Kea Rose Clebsch.
He was preceded in death by his parents, DeForest and Helen (nee Davison) Ward; his son who died serving in Vietnam, Ted in 1969; a grandson, Kai Kahoilua; and a sister, Nancy Liston.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 pm in the Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, where a Parastas service will be held at 7:30 pm. The family will also receive friends on Saturday from 9:30 am until the time of services at 10:00 am at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 2238 E. 32nd Street, Lorain. Rev. Joseph McCartney, pastor will officiate. Burial will follow in the Eastern Rite section of Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Twp. with military honors conducted by the Disabled American Veterans, Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20.
Contributions can be made in his memory to New Life Hospice, 3500 Kolbe Road, Lorain, Ohio, 44053, or to Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 2238 E. 32nd Street, Lorain, Ohio 44055.
What’s your fondest memory of DeForest?
What’s a lesson you learned from DeForest?
Share a story where DeForest's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with DeForest you’ll never forget.
How did DeForest make you smile?
