Patricia Mae Smith Ward, 76, of Salisbury, MD died August 15, 2026, at home after a brief battle with cancer but is now home with her Lord and Savior in Heaven. Pattie was born March 1, 1950, in Salisbury, MD. She was preceded in death by her parents Chandous Henry Smith and Rachel Lillian Elliott Smith, her maternal grandparents Lucy Mae Horner Elliott Gillis and Roscoe Elliott and her paternal grandparents Margaret Mae Hayman Smith Toadvine and Henry Smith. She was also preceded in death by her brother, James R. Smith in 2015 and brother-in-law Charlie Ward, Jr. in 2024.
She was a member of Grace Church for 42 years in Salisbury. She served in many ways in those years. She helped with the youth group, also a member of the Worship Committee, the Alter Guild, the Fellowship Committee and the Church Council. She also supported the H.I.G.H. Teas given by the ladies of the church. She graduated from James M. Bennett High School in 1968. She began her teaching career in 1972 after graduating from Salisbury State College. She taught 36 years at Charles H. Chipman Elementary School before retiring. Her first position was teaching children in the second grade at Salisbury Elementary School for 2 years. Then, she and her husband moved away from the area and started their family. Upon her return to Salisbury in 1976, she was hired to teach at the same school but it was now known as Salisbury First Grade Center. The school's name changed again when a new school was built in 1986 to its present name Charles H. Chipman. She worked thirty-four of those years teaching children in the first grade. She loved teaching children to read and write. After retirement, she was part of a social group of teacher friends that called themselves The Endless Summer Girls. They enjoyed 3-hour lunches every month. They also enjoyed trips to see plays and many other "field trips". She enjoyed membership in the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association and The Nabb Center. In her free time, she loved to spend time with her family and was especially devoted to her grandchildren. She loved to entertain friends, travel, garden, arrange flowers, scrapbook, listen to music, work on ancestry of the Smith and Ward families of the Eastern Shore, read and go to the beach on Assateague Island.
She is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 56 years, Harlan C. Ward. They were high school sweethearts and met while working at The Polar Bar, now known as Kellyn's Cafe. They married in 1970 while still in college. In addition to her husband, she leaves one child, Brian David Ward and his wife Tracy of Bristow, VA and 2 grandchildren, Jackson and Marley, father-in-law Col. Claibourne Cowgil Sr. of Gilbert, AZ. She also leaves behind one niece, Teresa Brittingham, and a great nephew, Dustin, and niece, Crystal. In addition, she leaves behind a long-time special friend Peggy Joseph who was the sister she never had and better known as "Two P's in a Pod", and her first grade family, Anne, Debbie, Judy and Peggy with whom she worked with for 27 years. A heartfelt thank you to precious friend and caretakers Ester & David Dixon, Lana Figgs and Leslie Waggoner.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Grace Church 635 E. Church St, Salisbury, MD on Friday August 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The service will be officiated by Pastors Jay Hurley, Chris Guy and Gary Tulak. Interment will be at Springhill Memory Gardens. Contributions may be made in her honor to Grace Church, 635 East Church Street, Salisbury, MD 21804 or The Nabb Center in care of The Salisbury University Foundation.
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