Philip Merle Ward

NOV 22, 1923 - MAY 18, 2013

Philip passed from us in the comfort of his Modesto home in the presence of his loving family. He was born in San Francisco the 2nd child of 5 brothers and 1 sister. Philip was a Veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific on many Merchant Marine ships.

Phil Ward was a businessman who established Ward-Schmid Boiler Company that served most all of the large industrial plants in Northern California needing steam. The company was also a supplier of steam boilers to China, Western Canada, and Mexico. From his union shop he employed 3 separate labor union affiliations, Boilermakers, Pipefitters, and Electricians (IBEW). He is a past president of the PHCC (Plumbing Heating & Cooling Contractors) association of the Central Valley; a past president of the MCA (Mechanical Contractors Association) of Northern California; and a past president of the California Striped Bass Association (Modesto Chapter).

Philip was also an accomplished pilot holding an instrument rating. As a sportsman, he loved off-shore fishing and flying his Cessna 210 airplane, so much so that he had a beach house built in Cabo San Lucas so he could fly friends and family down to fish and enjoy Mexico's Baja coast as he and his wife Sandy did. His favorite fishing was for king salmon off the San Francisco coast and wahoo in Los Cabos. He would love to take folks new to fishing out on his SkipJack and let them hook up a 20+ pound albacore, yellow fin, or large bull dorado...as an environmentalist he believed sailfish and marlin were strictly catch & release.

Philip is survived by his wife Sandra, brother Mark & Nita Ward of Clovis, sons Dave Ward of Escalon, Dan & Laurie Ward of Ceres, and daughter Deidra (Dee Dee) Ward Sousa of Alameda. He leaves behind 9 stepchildren; 3 grandchildren; 17 step-grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; and 13 step-great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by all.

Services will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home - Heritage Chapel - Visitation: Tuesday, May 28, from 4-8 PM. Service: Wednesday, May 29 at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

.