Obituary

Raymond Edwin Ward
October 8, 1924 - May 10, 2017

CAPT Raymond E. Ward, USN (Ret.) was born in North Vassalboro, Maine to Willis and Lizzie Ward on October 8, 1924. He had a brother Francis and Sister Barbara who, like his parents, are deceased. After graduating from the Erskine Academy, he attended Northeastern University and then Tuffs University in Boston, MA where he graduated with an electrical engineering degree. He join the U.S. Navy on July 1, 1943 via the V-12 Program. He served afloat on aircraft carriers, destroyers, and destroyer tenders and was stationed ashore in Norfolk, VÅ; Newport, RI; Londonderry Northern Island, Philadelphia, PA; Pearl Harbor, HI; Boston, MA; and Waukegan, IL. During his career as a Navy surface warfare officer, he commanded the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823), the USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853), the USS Bryce Canyon (AD-36); was Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 10; and Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Communications Station, Londonderry, Northern Ireland twice as a LCDR and later as a CAPT. He retired from the Navy as financial director for CNO (OP-94) staff in the Pentagon in 1976. Captain Ward received the Medal of Commendation and the Legion of Merit. Subsequent to his Navy retirement, he formed a private consultancy REWARD Associates in Fairfax, VA. He then held senior management positions in MAR Corp., SAMA Corp., and served in a number of volunteer positions in The Church of the Good Shepard and with the Goodwin House retirement community. Mr. Ward spent his summers with his family in his home in China, Maine and returned there for longer periods as he moved into retirement. Surrounded by family and friends, China was a place he loved. Mr. Ward is predeceased by his son Michael. He leaves his wife of almost 68 years, Patricia, daughters, Susan Swift (Brian) and Anne Monrad (Wayne), Grandchildren Nathaniel Monrad and his wife Amy, Ian Monrad and his wife Rachel, and Gwenn Swift as well as his great grandchildren, Maddison, Sonya, Ella and soon to be born Shelby, and many cousins and friends who will miss him. A memorial service will be held at Goodwin House, 4800 Fillmore Ave, Alexandria, VA 22311 on Monday, May 29, 2017 at 2:30pm with a reception to follow. He will be buried in his hometown of China, Maine at a date to be announced. Contributions to the Goodwin House Foundation in lieu of flowers are appreciated.