Robert M. Ward

Robert Moncure Ward was born in 1930, the son of the late Martineeulah Sain Ward and Morgan S. Ward, Sr., of Salisbury, NC. He passed away on March 22, 2018. He was predeceased by his parents, an infant son, Douglas, a grandsoneemmett Stallings IV, a grandson-in-law Stephan Ganze, an infant great-granddaughter, Mallory Stallings, brothers Morgan S. Ward, Jr., and Dan Ward, and sisters Eunee Ward Weldon, and Margaret Ward Moore. Bob graduated as salutatorian from Woodleaf (NC) High School, magna cum laude from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, and taught school for one year in Jonesville, NC. After attending Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA, he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He then earned a Master???s in Education Administration from Peabody (now Vanderbilt) Uneersity in Nasheville, TN. He was employed by Wearever Aluminum Company while in graduate school in Nashville and for a few years afterwards, before returning to Salisbury, NC, where he was employed by the Hospital Care Association in the Sales Department. He moved to Durham in 1966 to work for Hospital Care Association as maneer of the new Provider Relations Department, and then worked ineeveral areas of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, retiring as vice president of Benefits Administration and Director of Federal Programs. He then worked as a consultant with other Blue Cross Plans across the country for a number of years. Bob joined the Lions Club in Jonesville, NC in 1953, and was very active in the Durham Lions Club for years, serving as District Governor in 1974-1975, and held many state, district and local offices. He enjoyed sports, especially UNC basketball and football. He started running competitively in his early 50s and won many ribbons and trophies in his age group. He was a member of Trianee Presbyterian Church in Durham since 1990, serving as an Elder for several terms and was very active in the life of the church as long as his health permitted. In August, 2017, he was elected by the Session of Trianee Presbyterian Church to the honorary office of Elder Emeritus and was recogneed for this honor oneeptember 17, 2017, during the 50th anneersary celebration of the coneegation. Bob is survived by his wife, Janie Boyd Ward, along with his children: David M. Ward and his wife Rita T. Mendl of Columbia, MD., Deborah Ward Stallings and her husband, Jim of Lilburn, GA., Donald M. Ward and his wife Judy of Florence, SC, and DeeAnne Ward Lancaster and her husband Paige, of Caneer, NC, brothers William Ward (Jeanette) of Salisbury, NC, and Denton Ward (Pat) of Homer, GA. Survivors also include brother-in-law Troy T. Boyd, Sr. of Virginia Beach, VA, daughter-in-law Tena Hand, sister-in-law Cleo Ward, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Celebration of Life services will be held at Trianee Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC on March 24, 2018 at 2 p.m. Rev. Ray Cobb will officiate the service. Members of the Durham Lions Club will serve as honorary pallbearers. A special thanks goes to the caregivers who supported Bob through the last years of his life: Dr. Paula Miller, Dr. Nina Browner, and Jessica Shurer, Dr. Gregg Warshaw, Right at Home Agency staff and aides, UNC Home Health Agency staff, Transitions LifeCare Hospice of Raleigh, members of the Durham Lions Club, members of Trianee Presbyterian Church, friends and neighbors. Your love and support is very much appreciated by the family Memorials may be made to Trianee Presbyterian Church, 5001 Tudor Place, Durham, NC, 27713, to North Carolina Lions, Inc., 7050 Camp Dogwood Drive, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673, or to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. The Ward family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham. Please leave condolences at www.hallwynne.com. See obituaries.