HOULTON – James E. Ward, 76, died Nov. 4, 2011, at a local hospital. He was born Sept. 24, 1935, in Ludlow, son of Robert O. and Helen M. (McSheffery) Ward.
Jim served in the U.S. Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa. He was a member of Houlton United Methodist Church since 1959, Houlton Promenaders, Houlton Grange for 40 years and a lifetime member of Houlton Lodge of Elks. He started his own service station and wrecker service, Jim’s Gulf Service Station, which he ran from 1970 until his retirement in 1982; he was honored by the Gulf President Honor Council for his business.
Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley (Pryor) Ward of Houlton; two brothers, Lawrence Ward and his wife, Jo, and family of Houlton, and Arnold Ward and his wife, Ann, and family of New Hampshire; two sisters, Mary Roeske and her husband, Fred, and family, and Joyce Hanington, all of Brewer; brothers-in-law, Larry Pryor and family, and Andrew MacPherson and family; special sister-in-law, Betty Dewitt and her husband, Carl, and family; several very special nieces and nephews, and his dedicated young employees of his business. He was predeceased by his parents; and his sisters-in-law, Jean MacPherson, Colleen Pryor and Jackie Ward.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Houlton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Naomi Sam’Kpakra officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Jim’s memory to Houlton United Methodist Church or Houlton Humane Society, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.