Robert Lee Ward

Robert L. Ward, 78, passed away on Friday morning, December 15, 2017. He was born on May 24, 1939 in the small town of St. Pauls, NC to Floudie Lee and Seymour Richard Ward. He had one sister, Aline (Ward) Blount. Robert joined the Army in July 1962, promoted as a Marksman and later worked in the post office. He left the Army and made his way to Hampton, VA to work in the Newport News Shipyard, where he met his wife, Ellen (Spence) Ward. They married in September 1964 and gave birth to their only son, Tracy A. Ward. Tracy married Ruth “Cammie” (Porter) Ward on November 11, 1996 and had a daughter, Rachel T. Ward. In 2001, Robert retired from the Newport News Shipyard after 34 years of hard work and dedication in the X32 Sheet Metal Department. Robert loved to work in the garden and plant new flowers. He especially loved animals and also fishing. Family meant everything to him, and family loved him just as much. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ellen; son, Tracy and wife, Cammie; one grandchild, Rachel and fiancé Eric; soon to be great-grandchild, Charles Allen Brewer; and his nieces and nephew, Lisa, Angie, Debbie, and Jerry. The family will receive friends 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, December 22, 2017 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 23, at Parklawn Memorial Park. Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family. Arrangements are the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, Virginia 23666.