Marion Christine Ward

Marion Christine (Cole) Ward passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2021. Marion was born on June 6, 1927, in Terre Haute, Indiana, the daughter of Roland Cole and Christine Lindsey. She married Vern Donald Ward on August 21, 1948, and remained his wife until his passing in January, 2020. Marion and Vern started their business, Ward Pattern & Engineering, on May 18, 1964, with three employees on Growth Avenue in Fort Wayne. They continued to invest all of their resources into the business, and added a foundry (Ward Aluminum Casting) in 1978, a machining operation (Ward Production Machine) in 1985, and a heat treat operation (Ward Heat Treating) on Cook Road in 1989. Over the years and decades of their lives and business, Marion and Vern employed thousands of local employees, and took special pride in helping many of them, and their families. Many of these employees remained at the Ward Corporation for their entire working lives, and many still do to this day. Marion was involved with the Young JCs, and volunteered at the YMCA, helping disabled children learn to swim. She enjoyed ceramics, raising weimaraners, and competing at national dog shows. She was preceded in death by her husband Vern, and her son Vern Donald II. Her surviving children are sons Roland Ward (Bradenton, FL), and Chris Ward (Fort Wayne), and daughters Beth Rademaker (Ed) (Fort Wayne), and Mary Jo Atkins (Tim) (Fort Wayne). She also has many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. Marion's lifelong motto was “If you rest, you rust”. Memorial service will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 11, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church, 300 W Wayne Street, Fort Wayne. Arrangements have been entrusted to D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne. For Online condolences please visit www.mccombandsons.com