Ferris DeWitt Ward Sr.

Ferris DeWitt Ward, Sr. passed away on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Born in Bainbridge, Georgia on August 18, 1921, the third of four sons of Harry Cliatt Ward, Sr. and Lillian Maydee Powell Ward. He moved to Orlando, Florida in 1924 when his father relocated his business, the Ward-Leonard Company, from Bainbridge, Georgia. He attended school at Hillcrest Elementary then Memorial Junior High and graduated from Orlando High School in 1939. He worked for Yowell-Drew Department Store which later became Ivey's Department Store. With the United States' entry into World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in February 1942. Upon completion of training at Parris Island, SC and Camp Lejeune, NC, he deployed to Australia and New Zealand to prepare for the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. As a lance corporal in the First Regiment, First Marine Divison, he was in the third wave ashore on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. He turned twenty-one there two weeks later. Upon his return to the United States, he married Evelyn Eileen Caton at the First Methodist Church, Orlando, Florida on August 1, 1944. They were married for sixty-three years. Ferris D. Ward, Sr. operated Colonial Motors and Ward Leasing, Inc for over fifty years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cliatt Ward, Sr.; his wife, Evelyn Eileen Caton Ward; his son, Ferris DeWitt "Dee" Ward, Jr.; brothers, Harry Cliatt Ward, Jr., Valmore L. Ward, Sr. and Frederick J. Ward, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Jane Parks Ward, Henrietta Shell "Tuckie" Ward and Billie Era Shell "Bo" Ward; niece, Valerie Ward Lovett. He is survived by his son, Donald Randolph Ward and daughter-in-law, Mary Lindsey Ward and many nephews and nieces. Ferris Ward was a wobderful husband, father and a friend to many. Contributions may be made to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home, 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, Florida 32725.