Ward Parrish Wilson

Ward Parrish Wilson, loving son, brother, husband, father and friend passed away at the age of 57 on March 25, 2023, with family at his side after a quick but valiant battle with cancer. Ward is survived by his loving wife, Mary Helen, his three boys, Parrish, Charlie, and James, his mother, Jan Wilson, his sisters, Whitney Wilson Reardon and Lindsey Wilson and brother, Ryan Wilson, along with nieces and nephews.

Ward was born on August 21, 1965, to James Parrish Wilson of Sanford, NC, and Jan Robison Wilson of Hope, AR. They married in Dallas, where Ward grew up, attended Hyer Elementary. He graduated in 1983 from Highland Park High School, where he made lifelong friends. He loved playing on the O Line and was also one of the fiercest punters they’d ever seen. He also made his mark on the baseball diamond as an outstanding pitcher and continued his baseball career at the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

He had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing, instilled as a boy and continued through duck hunting in high school, exploring the rivers of Arkansas as a college student, fishing at the Baca Ranch in New Mexico as a young adult, and on to Jackson Hole in 1988 where he went to fly fishing guide school and worked at Three Rivers Ranch for a summer adventure on the Snake River. He was the happiest outdoors and enjoyed it most by sharing it with the ones he loved, family and friends.

He met the love of his life, Mary Helen, and they married on July 25, 1998, and then had three boys, Parrish, Charlie, and James. Together they poured their love into them. Ward shared his love of the outdoors with annual hunting trips to Abilene, fishing on the South Texas Coast around Rockport as well as Crested Butte, CO. He coached his boys and many of their classmates in youth sports and served on the YMCA Sports Committee. He did his best to see that every child had equal play time and encouraged them all. He later attended every single one of his boys’ football and lacrosse games through middle school and high school and loved serving on the board of the Highland Park Sports Club. He was their biggest fan and supporter. They spent quality family time together at their hunting and fishing club in East Texas, WestLakes. Lots of fun times bass fishing, singing and storytelling, but Ward also gave back serving as President of the Club from 2019-2022.

Ward began his career at Team Bank, then the Texas Lottery, followed by a long career in telecom and wireless real estate; however, his focus was always on family, friends, faith, and community. He was a very empathetic person and gave back to his community in many ways. In 2009, he joined the Salesmanship Club of Dallas where he served on various committees including the SCD Membership committee, the Marketing committee, the Byron Nelson Youth Clinic, the Byron Nelson Locker Room Chairman, the Byron Nelson Player Relations, the Club Member Committee, and Cell Tower Liaison.

All will remember Ward for his big personality, great sense of humor, warm laugh, bear hugs, and ability to make you feel welcome. He had a knack for coming up with the perfect nicknames and his quick wit kept you on your toes. He lived life to the fullest, loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, golf, sports, Labradors, good country music and most importantly was a man of Faith and especially loved his family and friends.

There will be a public Memorial Service at Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas on March 31, 2023, at 3:00 pm. There will be a Celebration of Life immediately following the service at Royal Oaks Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Momentous Institute of Dallas (Salesmanship Club) or the American Cancer Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Wilson family.