Barbara Ward Schwartz

Barbara Ward Schwartz, 88, of Wilmington, NC, died Friday, February 27, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice. Barbara was born February 19, 1938, in Erie, Pa, daughter of the late Honorable Howard Ward and Mrs. Alice Ward of Silver Creek, NY. Barbara graduated from Silver Creek High School and Ithaca College in Keuka Park, NY. She received her Master of Arts in Library Science at the University of Michigan and served as a librarian in Fredonia and Buffalo, NY. She was a talented artist and writer, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which gave her the opportunity to do research in genealogy.

Barbara lived in Westfield, Mass; then Largo, Florida, where she became active in St. Paul United Methodist Church. She moved back up north to Nashua, New Hampshire, where she enjoyed traveling New England. She moved to Wilmington in 2023 to be near family.

She is survived by her sister, Ginny Ward Holderness of Wilmington, NC, nephew J.B. Holderness of Englewood, NJ; niece Lorinda Umphlett and her husband the Reverend David Umphlett of Greensboro, NC; and three grandnephews, James, Parker, and Thomas Umphlett. She is predeceased by her brother, Philip Ward of Honolulu, Hawaii.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 16th at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro with the Rev. David Umphlett officiating.

Condolences for the family may be shared here on our guestbook.