Maria Victoria Ward

Maria Victoria Ward age 90 of San Antonio, Texas passed away on Friday April 25, 2025. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on December 23, 1934 to Loreto Ibarra Martinez and Marcela Gutierrez Ibarra.

Maria Spent her early years as a teacher in Guadalajara. Ronald C. Ward was visiting Guadalajara and the couple met. They became inseparable and soon married. Ronald was serving in the Army and the young couple were transferred to Germany. Maria loved her time in Germany and often shared details of the beautiful cities with her children and grandchildren. It was Maria's dream for her children and grandchildren to visit Germany.

While stationed in Germany, they started their family. The couple was blessed with two children. The first child was a daughter, Elizabeth. The second child was a son Ronald Jr. After their time in germany, the couple was transferred to El Paso Texas. While stationed in El Paso, the couple was blessed again with two more children, a daughter Bianca and a daughter Bettina.

The Army transferred the growing family to San Antonio, Texas. Now in San Antonio Maria worked for 20 years for Northeast Independent School District as a cafeteria manager at Walzem Elementary School. Maria retired for NEISD in May 2006. After Maria's retirement her daughter Bettina took over her position at Walzem Elementary School.

Maria was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. In Maria's retirement, she loved to read, play slots on her IPad, do word search puzzles (sopa de letras), go to the casinos, shopping, and was passionate about cooking for her family. She also loved Mogen David wine and was a huge fan of a good Margarita. Maria loved family vacation, especially to Hawaii and Mexico. A vacation to Mexico allowed her to stay in touch with her family. Maria was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and a great grandmother. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Maria is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years Ronald C. Ward Sr.; her son in law Gerald G. Gunnels, and granddaughter Tiara Ward. Maria is survived by her four children, Elizabeth M. Sanchez and husband Raymond, Ronald C. Ward Jr., Bianca J. Cooper and husband Michael, and Bettina D. Ward, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

A visitation for Maria will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218. A rosary and mass will occur Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218. A committal service will occur Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 1:15 PM to 1:35 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.