Marshall George Ward, our beloved husband, father, grandfather
and great-grandfather, followed an angel off to heaven on Saturday,
July 18, 2009, while visiting his daughter and her family in San Diego,
CA. He was 84 years old. We had all enjoyed quality time with Papa
during his granddaughter’s June wedding in Sacramento, a fabulous
July trip to Donner Lake, and finally, a wonderful week in San Diego.
After a great meal in Old Town San Diego (where the above picture
was taken), he simply rose from the table, walked to a grassy area
and left his body behind.
Marshall was born on June 20, 1925, in Burlington, VT, the youngest
of nine children, to Marshall and Stella Ward, both children of French
immigrants. After his parents both died, twelve-year-old “Sonny”
worked on farms and finished high school on his own. He then joined
the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor, where he served as a fireman.
Marshall then pursued a career in construction, specializing in
cooling towers, which took him as far off as Venezuela to complete
jobs.
Marshall met and married Pauline Elaine Bennett in 1958, and
adopted her year-old daughter, Peggy Lee, as his own. Marshall
and Pauline had three other children: Marshall George III, Susan
Marie, and Wendy Ann. Marshall was a wonderful provider for his
family. He completed his AA degree at SRJC and became a real
estate broker, opening Bee Hive Realty before returning to
Fluor/Ecodyne to finish his career in the cooling tower industry, after
which he enjoyed 22 years of retirement. He built or remodeled four
homes. He was an avid fisherman and loved owning his boat and
going out on Lake Sonoma with the family. He took the whole family
on many Lake Shasta houseboat vacations over the years. Marshall
was first and foremost a family man. He took great pride in the fact
that all four of his children had completed college and were
successful professionals. Surrounded by family and friends, he and
Pauline celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July of 2008.
Marshall is survived by his wife and love of his life, Pauline Elaine
Ward, by his children, Peggy Ward and Tami Wheeler of San Diego,
Marshall and Carole Ward of Santa Rosa, Susan Smith of Rohnert
Park, and Wendy Watson of Sacramento. He was preceded in death
by his son-in-law, Dixon Smith.
His grandchildren, who will all miss Papa, include: Sheri and Joaquin
Rodriguez, Melissa and Mario Gonzalez, Rachael Watson, Clifton
Watson, Andrew Kougl, Jennifer Ward, Rebecca and Reyn Knoll, and
Julian Kougl. His great-grandchildren are Jorgio and Juliana
Gonzalez, and Natalie and Cecilia Rodriguez.
A celebration of Marshall’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday,
August 1st, 2009 at the Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin
Ave., Santa Rosa, CA. His ashes will be interred immediately
afterward at the Shiloh Cemetery located at the intersection of Shiloh
and Windsor Rds. in Windsor, CA. An Open House will follow at
Marshall and Pauline’s home at 5725 Carriage Lane, Santa Rosa,
CA 95403.
Marshall will not attend, as he and Dixon will be gone fishing and
eating loads of chocolate.
“Rest in Peace, My Love, and Wait for Me.”
and great-grandfather, followed an angel off to heaven on Saturday,
July 18, 2009, while visiting his daughter and her family in San Diego,
CA. He was 84 years old. We had all enjoyed quality time with Papa
during his granddaughter’s June wedding in Sacramento, a fabulous
July trip to Donner Lake, and finally, a wonderful week in San Diego.
After a great meal in Old Town San Diego (where the above picture
was taken), he simply rose from the table, walked to a grassy area
and left his body behind.
Marshall was born on June 20, 1925, in Burlington, VT, the youngest
of nine children, to Marshall and Stella Ward, both children of French
immigrants. After his parents both died, twelve-year-old “Sonny”
worked on farms and finished high school on his own. He then joined
the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor, where he served as a fireman.
Marshall then pursued a career in construction, specializing in
cooling towers, which took him as far off as Venezuela to complete
jobs.
Marshall met and married Pauline Elaine Bennett in 1958, and
adopted her year-old daughter, Peggy Lee, as his own. Marshall
and Pauline had three other children: Marshall George III, Susan
Marie, and Wendy Ann. Marshall was a wonderful provider for his
family. He completed his AA degree at SRJC and became a real
estate broker, opening Bee Hive Realty before returning to
Fluor/Ecodyne to finish his career in the cooling tower industry, after
which he enjoyed 22 years of retirement. He built or remodeled four
homes. He was an avid fisherman and loved owning his boat and
going out on Lake Sonoma with the family. He took the whole family
on many Lake Shasta houseboat vacations over the years. Marshall
was first and foremost a family man. He took great pride in the fact
that all four of his children had completed college and were
successful professionals. Surrounded by family and friends, he and
Pauline celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July of 2008.
Marshall is survived by his wife and love of his life, Pauline Elaine
Ward, by his children, Peggy Ward and Tami Wheeler of San Diego,
Marshall and Carole Ward of Santa Rosa, Susan Smith of Rohnert
Park, and Wendy Watson of Sacramento. He was preceded in death
by his son-in-law, Dixon Smith.
His grandchildren, who will all miss Papa, include: Sheri and Joaquin
Rodriguez, Melissa and Mario Gonzalez, Rachael Watson, Clifton
Watson, Andrew Kougl, Jennifer Ward, Rebecca and Reyn Knoll, and
Julian Kougl. His great-grandchildren are Jorgio and Juliana
Gonzalez, and Natalie and Cecilia Rodriguez.
A celebration of Marshall’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday,
August 1st, 2009 at the Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin
Ave., Santa Rosa, CA. His ashes will be interred immediately
afterward at the Shiloh Cemetery located at the intersection of Shiloh
and Windsor Rds. in Windsor, CA. An Open House will follow at
Marshall and Pauline’s home at 5725 Carriage Lane, Santa Rosa,
CA 95403.
Marshall will not attend, as he and Dixon will be gone fishing and
eating loads of chocolate.
“Rest in Peace, My Love, and Wait for Me.”
