BETTY A. WARD

BANGOR – Betty A. Ward passed away July 20, 2010, at Westgate Manor, Bangor, after a long illness. She was born Sept. 28, 1928, in Monroe, La., daughter of Kelly and Annie Mae Aldridge. She was educated in Louisiana. Betty was very active in Louisiana 4-H Club activities beginning at a very young age through high school, focusing primarily on cooking, canning and sewing. She garnered many county and state blue ribbons, and in her senior year in high school, she earned a trip to a national competition in Chicago with a formal dress she made. She returned home with a blue ribbon! Betty lived in many locations as the wife of a career military officer, and she made each house a home using her sewing and decorating skills along with the knowledge of antiques and glassware she learned from her parents. She was always very active in the social activities so much a part of military life. She and Kermit made many lifetime friends that they kept up with long after leaving the military. They usually visited some of them on annual trips South to visit family. Christmas card mailing was a huge event in Betty’s life, with a mailing list of hundreds. Until her illness made it impossible, Betty wrote a lengthy personal message to each recipient. Betty’s cooking was legendary, whether it was a carefully planned party or an impromptu event. Betty also was a licensed realtor and was employed as a home decorator. Since both daughters returned to Maine immediately after graduating high school, Betty and Kermit returned to Bangor after Kermit’s retirement from the U.S. Air Force, and have lived on Union Street ever since. After having lived in many places during Kermit’s service, Betty thoroughly enjoyed having a forever home for her family, and worked tirelessly getting the home “just right,” and creating the extensive gardens that many passersby have enjoyed. After she became ill, ground plantings were difficult, so large numbers of containers were added to allow her to continue creating a beautiful yard. Betty lost her husband of 58 years, Lt. Col. Kermit D. Ward, retired, only five months ago. Betty will be deeply missed by her two daughters and their husbands, Cyndi and Don Darling of Hampden and Ginger and David Green of Bangor; her three grandchildren, Alastair Green of Cambridge, Mass., Calum Green of Ottawa, Ontario, and Christopher Green of Bangor; her two sisters, Beverly Gray of Shreveport, La., and Mary and her husband, Raymond Caldwell, of Choudrant, La., and their families. A service of remembrance will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Dr. Rex H. Garrett, director of chaplaincy services at Eastern Maine Medical Center, officiating. Friends are welcome to call 1 p.m. until time of service Friday, Sept. 24. In keeping with Betty’s wishes, there will be no viewing. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments immediately after the service Friday at Betty and Kermit’s home, 759 Union St., Bangor. Interment of both Betty and Kermit will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Those who wish to remember Betty in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope, Bangor, ME 04401 or Healthcare Charities for Diabetes Research and Care, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.