~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jean O. Ward, 67, native Houstonian, died Wednesday, March 27, 1996 after a valiant stuggle with cancer. Devoted wife and mother, Jean was commited to helping others. She graduated from S.N.M. Marrs High School in Aldine as Salutatorian, and attended the University of Houston, 1946 to 1949. She served as choir director for eight years at Southmont Methodist Church, was President of her community Civic Association for three terms, and was PTA President for several years. Mrs. Ward's accolades include several Mayor's Trophies for contributions to the disabled community, three Department of Labor awards for outstanding accomplishments of three Joint Traning Partnership Act programs. Employee Preformance Award from the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES) for outstanding service, and a citation of Appreciation from the Texas Public Employees Association for her contribution as Board Member and Committee Chair. Mrs. Ward's accomplishments include 40 years of employment by the Texas Employment Commission ultimately achieving the position of Assistant Regional Director - Houstion Region. She initiated and operated the Dislocated Workers Program, initiated and arranged funding for a Disabled Workers Program, initiated the first Job Corps recruitment program for the State of Texas, initiated the first Work Inventive Project, initiated the Texas Employment Network Program to provide employment for young probationers. For 23 years, she served as president or as a member of the Board of Directors of Community Partners. Mrs. Ward developed proposals that she used to obtain federal funding for employment programs serving thousands of Texans in a twelve county area. Most recently, she chaired the Texas Empowerment Network assisting young probationers with rehabilitation and housing. She served her last eight years on the Mayor's Committee with Kathy Whitmire and Mayor Bob Lanier. Mrs. Ward was most gratified to learn before her death, that the Board of Directors of Community Partners voted to rename their main school-based clinic facility the Jean Ward Clinic for Children and Adolescents. She is survived by her husband, Jack Coop Ward; two sons, William Ross Ward and James Scott Ward; three grandchildren, Blake, Scott, and Katie; a twin sister, Ann Rogers,; sister, Charlotte Wright; brother; G. W. Roesler; two daughters-in-law, Sharon and Pat; and many nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends from 6 P.M. until 9 P.M. on Friday evening, March 29, 1996 in the Settegast-Kopf Drawning Room, 3320 Kirby Drive. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 30, 1996 at Central Congregational Church, 1311 Holman at Caroline, with Dr. Clark Chamberlain officiating. Pallbearers: Bruce Arisman, Joseph Wright, Howell E. Wright, Jr., Donald Rogers, Rusty Rogers, Evin Burris, Norman Hillegeist, Jr., Brian Radabaugh and Steven Peters. Honorary pallbearers: Mayor Bob Lanier, Councilman Judson Robinson, Jr., Judge Frank Evans, Henry Groppe, Hardie Davis, and Don R. Hart. internment will follow in Brookside Memorial Park, Highway 59 at Lauder Road. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~