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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Darrell Eugene
Ward
November 27, 1922 – January 11, 2010
Obituary
Darrell Eugene Ward, 87, died Monday morning, January 11, 2010, after a long illness at his home near May's Lick. He was born at Narrows, Kentucky, near Leitchfield, on November 27, 1922. He was the son of Noah Ward, a WWI veteran, and Laura Alma Gaither Ward. He was an honor graduate of Hartford High School and enrolled at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 1940. He was a veteran, serving more than three years as a meteorologist in the Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed at air bases in England and Iceland.
He returned to U.K. after the war and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering in May, 1947. He married Mary Gordon Gillespie, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Gillespie of May's Lick. After graduation he worked at the Esso oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and completed his graduate course work at L.S.U. In 1958 he accepted a position as an Architectural Mechanical Engineer at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he helped guide a major expansion of campus facilities. In 1970 he moved to Springfield, Illinois to help develop plans for the new Sangamon State University, now a part of the University of Illinois.
Wishing to return to Kentucky, he then moved to Richmond, Kentucky, to accept a position as Associate Director of Buildings and Grounds at Eastern Kentucky University. He retired in 1987 and moved to a country home on the Gillespie family farm in May's Lick.
Darrell was a licensed Professional Engineer in three states, and a Life Member of the A.S.M.E., A.S.H.R.A.E., and the N.R.A., and a member of the Hartford Christian Church.
Darrell was an active man with many hobbies. Earlier in life he enjoyed running and TaeKwon-Do. He was an expert marksman and enjoyed target shooting. He planted many fruit trees at his home, and loved to walk and care for his dogs.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Ruddell Cooper, and two brothers, Cecil and C. Earl Ward. He is survived by his wife of 62 years and his four sons, Darrell T. and Jim (Lynn) Ward of May's Lick, John G. (Carol) of Oak Ridge, TN, and Dr. Robert J. (Danita) Ward of Statesville, NC, six beloved grandchildren: Madeline, Andrew, Joseph Ward (May's Lick), Laura Ward (Knoxville, TN), Rachel (Nick) Vigneaux (Greensboro, NC), Aaron Ward (Wilmington, NC), two great-granchildren, Isaac and Isabella Vigneaux, and two step-grandsons, Spencer and John Morrow, of North Carolina. He leaves a sister and brother, Lucille Davis and J. Russell Ward, both of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Cropper, of Maysville.
Graveside services will be conducted at the May's Lick Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 14. Arrangements by Palmer Funeral Home, May's Lick. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Buffalo Trace, P.O. Box 758, Maysville, KY 41056.
He returned to U.K. after the war and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering in May, 1947. He married Mary Gordon Gillespie, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Gillespie of May's Lick. After graduation he worked at the Esso oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and completed his graduate course work at L.S.U. In 1958 he accepted a position as an Architectural Mechanical Engineer at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he helped guide a major expansion of campus facilities. In 1970 he moved to Springfield, Illinois to help develop plans for the new Sangamon State University, now a part of the University of Illinois.
Wishing to return to Kentucky, he then moved to Richmond, Kentucky, to accept a position as Associate Director of Buildings and Grounds at Eastern Kentucky University. He retired in 1987 and moved to a country home on the Gillespie family farm in May's Lick.
Darrell was a licensed Professional Engineer in three states, and a Life Member of the A.S.M.E., A.S.H.R.A.E., and the N.R.A., and a member of the Hartford Christian Church.
Darrell was an active man with many hobbies. Earlier in life he enjoyed running and TaeKwon-Do. He was an expert marksman and enjoyed target shooting. He planted many fruit trees at his home, and loved to walk and care for his dogs.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Ruddell Cooper, and two brothers, Cecil and C. Earl Ward. He is survived by his wife of 62 years and his four sons, Darrell T. and Jim (Lynn) Ward of May's Lick, John G. (Carol) of Oak Ridge, TN, and Dr. Robert J. (Danita) Ward of Statesville, NC, six beloved grandchildren: Madeline, Andrew, Joseph Ward (May's Lick), Laura Ward (Knoxville, TN), Rachel (Nick) Vigneaux (Greensboro, NC), Aaron Ward (Wilmington, NC), two great-granchildren, Isaac and Isabella Vigneaux, and two step-grandsons, Spencer and John Morrow, of North Carolina. He leaves a sister and brother, Lucille Davis and J. Russell Ward, both of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Cropper, of Maysville.
Graveside services will be conducted at the May's Lick Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 14. Arrangements by Palmer Funeral Home, May's Lick. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Buffalo Trace, P.O. Box 758, Maysville, KY 41056.
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