Richard served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Life story
Richard Thomas Ward 91, of Allison Park PA, is survived by wife Carolyn Yvonne Ward (nee Thill), daughters Yvonne Overholt, son in law Michael Overholt, Suzanne Ward Crowe, Michele Ward Bondi, son in law Mark D. Bondi all of Allison Park and son Richard T. Ward and daughter in law Karen Ward of Mentor, OH. In addition, he had eleven grandchildren and twelve greatgrandchildren. Richard was one of ten siblings, surviving are Mary Ann Quigg of Upper Saint Claire and Edmund Ward of Gordonsville, VA.
Richard had been retired from Beckwith Machinery company after 50 years of service. He was a Korean War veteran, and after his active duty, obtained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer IV in the Army reserve Judge Advocate General unit in Pittsburgh. He was an active church member, lector and usher at St. Ursula Church for over 60 years and very active in their annual fair. He was also a long-time member of the Operating Engineers Local 66 and had served as their business agent for a number of years. He had also served as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Township of Hampton and received awards for his dedicated service in this capacity during the deadly flood of June 1986.
Richard had great energy, physical, emotional, and spiritual strength and will be missed and remembered lovingly by his family and the many others that he positively impacted during his life.
I remember my Granddad as the one who would drive us to our dentist appointments in the backseat of his truck, questioning me on my multiplication times tables and if I got an answer wrong I remember being so scared to disappoint him. He would simply explain the equation as if it was so simple. From a girl who hated math, I didn’t understand why it was so easy to him especially without any pencil or paper. He was the hardest working man. He would come to our house for a family party in the summer heat, and get right to work. My mother would clean for hours on end but still, he would find a broom and dust pan and a helper (usually a small child) and make sure we knew the proper way to use the broom. Most of the time we would sit down for dinner and ask where granddad was, looking out the back windows and seeing him on his hands and knees scraping the moss from the patio.
My grandfather is a good reminder that life is all about the simple things. He never cared what clothes we wore to his house (usually pjs and mismatched socks).
He cared about his family, his wife; Carolyn and his kids, & grandchildren. He wanted everyone around him safe. We lived 8 minutes down the road but would tell us to ring when we made it home safe. Always making sure everyone would leave with a “cya” later, never goodbye, because goodbye is forever.
We will “cya” later granddad. ❤️
Today, I want to honor and celebrate the life of my beloved Granddad, Richard. He is a man who embodied hard work and dedication, a true craftsman who could fix just about anything. His love for our family was evident in everything he did, and his unwavering support and care were constants in our lives.
After my grandparents moved in with us following their house fire, I had the incredible opportunity to spend even more time with Granddad. Those days were filled with moments I will cherish forever. We sang karaoke with abandon, pieced together countless puzzles, shared meals, and even took on the task of cleaning the leaves out of the entire neighborhood together (because what will your friends think when they come over).
Granddad was more than just a grandfather; he was a mentor, a friend, and a source of endless wisdom and joy. His ability to find happiness in the simplest activities and his commitment to making our home and community a better place left an indelible mark on all of us.
Though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in the memories we hold dear and the values he instilled in us. I am forever grateful for the time we had together and the love he so freely gave. Thank you, Granddad, for all the lessons, laughter, and love. You will always hold a special place in my heart.
