Norman E. Ward Jr.

Colonel Norman Earl Ward Jr. (USA, Ret) died peacefully in his sleep at home early Saturday morning, October 23, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Jane Dudley Ward. The North Carolina high school sweethearts were married 64 years at Jane’s passing in 2016. Col. Ward is survived by his two children, Darlene Ward, Norfolk, VA and Norman E. Ward, III (Jan) of Pawleys Island, SC. He leaves a legacy of love, hard work, and curiosity with his three grandchildren, Amanda Ennis (Matthew) of Birmingham, AL, Dr. Bryan C. Ward (Heather) of Melrose, MA, and J. David Ward (Melinda) of Alexandria, VA, and three great-grandchildren, John Bryan Ennis, William Ward Ennis, and Chloe Grace Ward. He is survived by his sister Virginia Ward, of New Bern, NC, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family who will miss his sharp wit, dry humour, and well-timed wink.

The family patriarch didn’t take anything for granted--especially hard work, education, and common sense. These attributes served him well when he enlisted as an Army recruit in 1948, and ultimately led to him retiring as one of the Army’s senior logistics officers 31 years later. He never forgot that he started his married life with $108 in his pocket or the challenges of working full-time while pursuing his own education and advanced degree in Industrial Management. He worked hard to provide his family more financial stability than he had ever known, and also prayed they’d have the good sense to come in out of the rain.

After retiring, Col. Ward and his beloved bride dubbed themselves the “Wandering Wards” and started traveling the world with full backpacks and curious hearts. They visited 82 countries and all seven continents with the goal of making friends, taking pictures, and appreciating new cultures while staying physically and mentally fit. They brought home memories, treasures, and “travel trash” trinkets.. Their desire to let others learn and live vicariously through their experiences prompted them to deliver dozens (if not hundreds) of slide-show presentations of their travels at churches and community centers across Fairfax County. Their favorite quote about traveling was from Mark Twain: “Travel is fatal to bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” The Wandering Wards embodied this mindset even after retiring their walking sticks, and encouraged their loved ones to follow their footsteps through education, adventure, and a commitment to learning.

Col. Ward kept his schedule with military precision after retiring from the Pentagon, and could be counted on to host his church’s Children Chapel, organize quarterly blood drives, and give a 5:00 toast with his favorite (cheap) bourbon. He was a generous man of great integrity who served our country proudly and had high expectations for everyone around him. To earn his verbal praise was a meaningful achievement, yet he showed his steadfast love and unwavering support in other ways. He will be greatly missed.

A full military honors burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday March 18th 2022 at 3pm. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Demaine of Springfield, VA

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org, or to the Army Emergency Relief, https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/.