MENTONE - Vadis J. Ward, 94, of 102 Miller Drive, Mentone, died at 7:05 p.m. April 10, 2009, in Miller's Merry Manor, Warsaw.
She was born Feb. 26, 1915, in Uniondale, to Lawrence M. and Helen Pauline Brickley. On Aug. 15, 1934, in Fort Wayne, she married Ralph C Ward, who died May 16, 1999.
She was co-owner of Ward's Paint and Wallpaper Store and a homemaker. She then became a LPN II at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Mich. She graduated from Mentone High School and attended Northwestern College, Traverse City, from 1968-90. She was a member of Mentone United Methodist Church; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 0425, Mentone; and Mentone Women's Group. She lived to read, bird watch, shop the QVC Channel and never lost the love of learning.
Surviving are a daughter, Jacqueline (and spouse Rodney) Gibble, Mentone; a son, Ronald D. (and spouse LaVonne) Ward, Valparaiso; a daughter-in-law, Pamela Ward, Warsaw; 12 grandchildren; and several great- and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Ted L. Ward; a grandson, Simoen Daniel Ward; a great-granddaughter, Ashleigh Bruner; a sister, Freda Shoemaker; and a brother, Donald "PeeWee" Elick.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at King Memorial Home, Mentone, with the Rev. Doris Smith officiating. Burial will be in Mentone Cemetery.
Calling is from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
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Memorials to the Alzheimer's Association.
Condolences may be sent to www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
