Richard I. "Dick" Ward, 80, died Friday, May 16, 2008 at Rose Arbor
Hospice, Kalamazoo following a sudden stroke. Dick, the son of Ivan Walter
Ward and Mildred Lena Benninghoff, was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He completed
his education by graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He
joined the U.S. Army in 1944 receiving an honorable discharge in 1945. He then
joined the Navy in 1945, serving as an aviator, and was honorably discharged
in 1947.
He married Donna Eileen Wilson Nov. 19, 1949 in Pittsburgh, PA. They moved
to Three Rivers in 1952 where he was Airport Manager of Dr. Haines Three
Rivers Municipal Airport from 1952 through 1965. There he developed his business,
Ward Aero, Inc., a very successful manufacturing company in the production
of general aviation parts. In 1977 he sold Ward Aero to Parker Hannifin Corp.
Airborne Division. He developed Forward Horizons, Inc., LLC, consulting within
the aviation business field worldwide. He served on the City of Three Rivers
Industrial Development Authority and previously Co-Chaired the Airport Board
for Dr. Haines Airport. Dick was a volunteer Ford Tri-Motor Pilot for the
Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, also known as The Air Zoo. He purchased
and rebuilt his first airplane at age 15 and soloed at age 16.
He was very active in Rotary International, a Paul Harris Fellow, with a
51 year perfect attendance record. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian
Church of Three Rivers-Centreville. Dick wrote many articles published in
aviation publications, and authored two books, "Beechcraft Twin Bonanza-Craft
of the Masters" and "Flying Thoughts-An Aviator's Flight Through
Life."
On May 10, 2008, Dick was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration
with the Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award and the Wright
Brothers "Master Pilot" Award. The State of Michigan also paid
a special tribute to Richard for his outstanding achievement and extensive
contribution to the field of aviation and 50 years of safe flying.
Surviving are his wife Donna, after 58 precious years of marriage, 3 sons,
Dane (Connie) Ward, Rising Fawn, GA, Mark Ward, Victorville, CA, Greg (Theresa)
Ward, Vicksburg, MI, 2 granddaughters, Victoria Ward, Holly (Hayne) Brant,
2 great-grandchildren, Trey Brant, Campbell Brant, half brother Paul Ward,
and half sister Alice Burrell.
Cremation has taken place at his request.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at the Hohner
Funeral Home from 5-8 P.M. A celebration of Dick's life will be held Wednesday May
21, 2008 at 11 A.M. at the First Presbyterian
Church Three Rivers-Centreville
with Dr. Jon Deily officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contribution memorials may be directed to the Three
Rivers Rotary Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 245, Three Rivers, MI 49093 or the
Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum (The Air Zoo), 6151 Portage Road / Portage,
MI 49002. Contribution envelopes are also available at the funeral home.
Please contact Greg Ward for any Twin Bonanza business or inquiries: (269)
649-1333 or email: poplar-1@sbcglobal.net
