RALPH H. WARD

ORRINGTON and BANGOR Ralph H. Ward, 79, died peacefully Jan. 18, 2008, surrounded by his family at a Bangor health care facility. Born Sept. 25, 1928, in Brewer, the son of Leon and Esther (Jones) Ward, Ralph was a loving husband and friend, and protective father. Although he was a quiet man, he was a great storyteller with a terrific sense of humor. He worked for Standard Packaging for 15 years, M.L. Coffin Co., and the town of Orrington. He volunteered many hours as a bus driver for Hammond Street Senior Citizen Center, loving every hour of his travels to Sky Lodge and other destinations. He was a member and past master of Ralph J. Pollard No. 217 AF & AM, Orrington and Anah Shriners, Bangor. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally (Bray) Ward of Orrington; two daughters, Candace Ward of Bangor and Melinda Ward and Keith Ogden of Dedham; three sisters, Geraldine Smalling of Paragould, Ark., Elizabeth and her husband, David Lang, of Carlisle, Mass., and Constance and husband, Clifton Cox, of Brunson, S.C.; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy, Jean and Mar-ilyn Ward; his “adopted” daughter, Patricia (Wills) Lea-thers and her husband, Wayne, and their children, Ben, Beth and Shaun; as well as 19 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Barbara; and two brothers, Karleton and Kenneth. The family gives special thanks to the caring and know-ledgeable staff of Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit, Grant 6, Grant 3 and Phillips Oliver Rehab Center, as well as the compassionate staff of Ross Manor and New Hope Hospice. Friends may call 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where a Masonic service will be held 7 p.m. by the officers and members of Ralph J. Pollard Lodge. A service of remembrance will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, with the Rev. Robert T. Carlson, officiating. Spring interment will be at Marston Cemetery, Orrington. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, immediately after the service. If you would like to remember Ralph in a special way, gifts in his memory may be sent to the Duffy-Ward Foundation, care of OHI, 25 Freedom Parkway, Hermon, ME 04401 or the Ward Family Scholarship, care of Eastern Maine Community College Development Office, 354 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.