RICHARD H. WARD, CAPT. USAF (ret.) 81, passed away May 25, 2002 in Houston, Texas. A visitation will be held 6-8 PM Tuesday May 28 at Park Forest Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer. There will be a graveside service at 10 AM Wednesday, May 29 at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr.
He was born March 25, 1921 to Herbert B. and Helen H. Ward Sr. in Geneseo, Illinois. He entered the enlisted ranks of the US Army Air Force in July, 1940 and rose rapidly to the rank of Master Sgt. He served in the Philippines, Okinawa, and entered Japan with the Occupation Forces in 1945. He returned to Japan in December 1949, as 1st Sgt. with the 39th Fighter Squadron. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict, was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star for bravery, and received a battlefield commission in August 1951.
He returned to the United States as he put it, "as the oldest 2nd Lt. in the USAF" at age 30, and was eventually, assigned to the USAF Securtiy Service. He served as an intelligence analyst at Kelly AFB, with the National Security Agency, in Maryland and Germany. He retired from active duty in November, 1962 and entered the Civil Service working for NSA in Maryland and Japan. In 1976 he took up yet another career as a real estate agent in San Antonio where he won distinction as a member of the Million Dollar Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jill, his brother Ben and his wife Emma Ward of Geneseo, IL, sons Richard and his wife Ann, and Carter and his wife Grace, of Houston, his daughter Liz and her husband Stathis Papageorgiou of Athens, Greece, four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
His gracious manner and good humor earned him friends throughout his life and throughout the world. His family and friends will sorely miss him.
(Tuesday 05/28/2002 Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page , 3 Edition)
He was born March 25, 1921 to Herbert B. and Helen H. Ward Sr. in Geneseo, Illinois. He entered the enlisted ranks of the US Army Air Force in July, 1940 and rose rapidly to the rank of Master Sgt. He served in the Philippines, Okinawa, and entered Japan with the Occupation Forces in 1945. He returned to Japan in December 1949, as 1st Sgt. with the 39th Fighter Squadron. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict, was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star for bravery, and received a battlefield commission in August 1951.
He returned to the United States as he put it, "as the oldest 2nd Lt. in the USAF" at age 30, and was eventually, assigned to the USAF Securtiy Service. He served as an intelligence analyst at Kelly AFB, with the National Security Agency, in Maryland and Germany. He retired from active duty in November, 1962 and entered the Civil Service working for NSA in Maryland and Japan. In 1976 he took up yet another career as a real estate agent in San Antonio where he won distinction as a member of the Million Dollar Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jill, his brother Ben and his wife Emma Ward of Geneseo, IL, sons Richard and his wife Ann, and Carter and his wife Grace, of Houston, his daughter Liz and her husband Stathis Papageorgiou of Athens, Greece, four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
His gracious manner and good humor earned him friends throughout his life and throughout the world. His family and friends will sorely miss him.
(Tuesday 05/28/2002 Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page , 3 Edition)
RICHARD H. WARD, CAPT. USAF (ret.) 81, passed away May 25, 2002 in Houston, Texas. A visitation will be held 6-8 PM Tuesday May 28 at Park Forest Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer. There will be a graveside service at 10 AM Wednesday, May 29 at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr.
He was born March 25, 1921 to Herbert B. and Helen H. Ward Sr. in Geneseo, Illinois. He entered the enlisted ranks of the US Army Air Force in July, 1940 and rose rapidly to the rank of Master Sgt. He served in the Philippines, Okinawa, and entered Japan with the Occupation Forces in 1945. He returned to Japan in December 1949, as 1st Sgt. with the 39th Fighter Squadron. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict, was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star for bravery, and received a battlefield commission in August 1951.
He returned to the United States as he put it, "as the oldest 2nd Lt. in the USAF" at age 30, and was eventually, assigned to the USAF Securtiy Service. He served as an intelligence analyst at Kelly AFB, with the National Security Agency, in Maryland and Germany. He retired from active duty in November, 1962 and entered the Civil Service working for NSA in Maryland and Japan. In 1976 he took up yet another career as a real estate agent in San Antonio where he won distinction as a member of the Million Dollar Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jill, his brother Ben and his wife Emma Ward of Geneseo, IL, sons Richard and his wife Ann, and Carter and his wife Grace, of Houston, his daughter Liz and her husband Stathis Papageorgiou of Athens, Greece, four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
His gracious manner and good humor earned him friends throughout his life and throughout the world. His family and friends will sorely miss him.
(Tuesday 05/28/2002 Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page , 3 Edition)
He was born March 25, 1921 to Herbert B. and Helen H. Ward Sr. in Geneseo, Illinois. He entered the enlisted ranks of the US Army Air Force in July, 1940 and rose rapidly to the rank of Master Sgt. He served in the Philippines, Okinawa, and entered Japan with the Occupation Forces in 1945. He returned to Japan in December 1949, as 1st Sgt. with the 39th Fighter Squadron. He served 18 months in the Korean Conflict, was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star for bravery, and received a battlefield commission in August 1951.
He returned to the United States as he put it, "as the oldest 2nd Lt. in the USAF" at age 30, and was eventually, assigned to the USAF Securtiy Service. He served as an intelligence analyst at Kelly AFB, with the National Security Agency, in Maryland and Germany. He retired from active duty in November, 1962 and entered the Civil Service working for NSA in Maryland and Japan. In 1976 he took up yet another career as a real estate agent in San Antonio where he won distinction as a member of the Million Dollar Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jill, his brother Ben and his wife Emma Ward of Geneseo, IL, sons Richard and his wife Ann, and Carter and his wife Grace, of Houston, his daughter Liz and her husband Stathis Papageorgiou of Athens, Greece, four grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
His gracious manner and good humor earned him friends throughout his life and throughout the world. His family and friends will sorely miss him.
(Tuesday 05/28/2002 Houston Chronicle, Section A, Page , 3 Edition)
Bio by: GW
Gravesite Details
Served in the Philippines, Okinawa, and entered Japan with the Occupation.
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