Information is from the Mason City Iowa newspaper. Arleigh Robert Ward, 81, of 1302 N. Virginia Ave., died Tuesday (April 24, 2001) at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. Bill Poland officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with a flag presentation by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour before services on Saturday at the church. Arleigh Robert Ward was born on March 2, 1920, in Zionsville, Ind., the son of James and Ethel (Belk) Ward. He will be sorely missed as a loving father, grandfather and remembered for his kindness, patience, and easy-going personality. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1942-1945, attaining the rank of electrician first class mate. After the war, he moved to Chicago, where he met his wife of 50 years, Dolores O. Mayo. They were married Jun 28, 1947, and made their home in Mason City. He worked for Interstate Power Co., as a turbine operator until his retirement. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees, was a member of the Men's Club and gave generously of his time as a volunteer. For many years, he was the Boy Scout leader for Troop 9 at Harding Elementary, and enjoyed his membership in the local radio-controlled model airplane club. He loved spending time with family and wintering in Texas. As an avid fisherman, he spent countless hours fishing with his children and grandsons. Those left to cherish is memory include his son, Dennis Ward, of Thornburg, his daughters, Lora Lake and husband, Wayne, of League City, Texas, and Anita Graves and husband, Scott, of Chanhassen, Minn.; grandsons, Michael and Paul Graves, of Chanhassen, Minn. He was preceded in death by parents, eight siblings, including his twin brother Harleigh; and his wife, Dolores, in 1997. Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.
Uncle Arleigh 1st wife was Lois Madsen. He married her during WWII. According to my brother he was on cruise from his home base San Diego, Calif., and when he returned she was not to be found.