Ronald D. Ward

Ronald D. Ward, age 81, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, January 17, 2010 at his home surrounded by his family.

A viewing will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 22, 2010 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A memorial service will be at 12:30 p.m., Monday, January 25, 2010 at Dayspring Baptist Church with Pastor Stan Smith officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 25, 2010 at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Remembrances may be made to Riverside Youth for Christ, PO Box 593, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528 or Pregnancy Care Center of Grants Pass, PO Box 5040, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528.

Ron was born January 19, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio to Paul & Helen Ward. In 1945 he graduated from Beaver Falls High School in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. From 1946 to 1947 he served in the United States Navy and for eight more years was Yeoman 1st class in the Active Naval reserves. He moved to Riverside, California where he was a professional baseball player for the Riverside Rubes for one season. On August 25, 1951 in Riverside he married Delila Mae Bralley and in 1960 they moved to Grants Pass. Ron retired as a business owner of 48 States News Distributing Company in Grants Pass. He moved to Maui, Hawaii in 1977 where he lived for 14 years before returning to Grants Pass to be closer to family.

Ron was a former member of the Grants Pass Golf Club and participated in the Twilight League and was an active member of Dayspring Baptist Church as a Deacon. While living in Maui, he was a Sunday School teacher for seven years.

He enjoyed all sports, especially golf. He also enjoyed the Illinois River, vacationing in Mexico, the beach, Dixieland music, and the 49ers. He especially loved his family.

Ron is survived by his wife, Delila Ward of Grants Pass; four children, Ken B. Ward of Grants Pass, Laura Delila Cramp of Grants Pass, Scott R. Ward of Grants Pass, and Bruce P. Ward of Talent; two sisters, Beverly Terdik of Escondido, California and Helen Downing of Tulare, California; 12 grandchildren, Jennifer (Cramp) Uskoski, Brook (Ward) Baxter, Joshua Ward, Rachel Ward, Ruth Ward, Luke Ward, John Ward, Ben Ward, Jubilee Ward, Mattie Ward, Thomas Ward and Pearl Ward; and four great-grandchildren, Hope Uskoski, Noah Baxter and two on the way.

He was preceded in death by his beloved granddaughter, Jennifer Cramp Uskoski, his parents, and a brother, Paul Ward.