William Morgan Ward Jr.

WARD, William M., Jr., 74, of Webster Groves, on Fri., July 29, 2011. Beloved husband of Martha (nee Launius) for 44 years; loving father of William (Shana) Ward, III, Jennifer Meroe (Brian) Kennedy, & Andrew Burnet Ward; most wonderful grandfather of Maxine, Sydney, & Morgan Ward and Annie & Matthew Kennedy; dear son of Annie Meroe & the late William M. Ward, Sr.; dear brother of Anne (Rev. Donald) Sabbert & Jane (Rev. Dennis) Lindberg; dear cousin, uncle, brother-in-law & friend to many.

Bill was an attorney for 34 years in private practice. He earned his A.B. in History at Mizzou in 1959, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and the MU Alumni Assoc. followed by earning his LLD from Washington University School of Law in 1961. He was President & CEO of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid America, a non-profit network of retirement communities. The latest community to open is Aberdeen Heights in Kirkwood, MO in the fall of 2011. He also served locally as an officer and director of the Bethesda Health Care Group and advisory board. He also served on the board of Project Inc.-a sheltered workshop for developmentally delayed adults, as director and legal counsel-pro bono. Bill was a 31 year member of the National Board of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and served as a Trustee and twice as Chairman and was active on the local boards for St. Louis Gateway & Wichita Chapters. He was honored with the “Spiral of Life” award, the highest award for a lay person that the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society presents. Locally, he served 6 terms on the Board of the Webster Groves Library. An Eagle Scout himself, he was also active with the Boy Scouts and also served as manager & coach of the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Baseball League. Member of the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church where he served as deacon, trustee, elder, Sunday School and adult education teacher, Bill’s family has been longtime residents of Webster Groves, dating back to 1894.