Harrison Ward, 80, passed away Saturday, July 6, at home with his family near him. According to his wishes, he will be cremated with a memorial gathering celebrating his life planned for a later date.
Harrison was born June 9, 1944, in Houston TX but moved to Waco at age 6 months. There he attended eight different public schools as his family lived on the outskirts of town and schools kept getting built closer and closer. He graduated in 1962 as a member of the first Richfield High School class. He then attended the University of Texas in Austin on the Plan II program, where he graduated with honors in 1966.
Shortly after graduation from UT, he moved to the Big Island of Hawaii where he lived for ten years. During his time there he taught an English class at a country school for a year before working for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy high atop Mauna Kea. He was very proud of the construction skills he learned while building his off-the-grid house in the little Waa Waa subdivision near Pahoa.
He returned to Waco in 1984 and worked in the family business, the Joe L. Ward Company. After the business sold, he attended MCC to earn an associate degree in Computer Applications and worked as a freelance PC consultant for many years.
He was a man with great intellectual curiosity and had a passion for activism in causes he believed in. He was active for many years in Waco Friends of the Climate and maintained the group’s website. He enjoyed reading, gardening, carpentry, history, keeping up with current events, and music. He especially enjoyed playing guitar with his friends in the Rock Creek Orchestra.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Paula Ward; brother, Rayner Ward and wife, Holly of Portland, Oregon; brother, Jeff Ward of Waco; son, Nick Ward and wife, Lara of Albuquerque, NM; daughter, Jessica Ward of Round Rock, TX; son, Travis Ward of Waco; son, Lee Ward and wife, Laura of San Marcos, TX; grandson, Nathaniel Ward of Round Rock, and granddaughters, Camila and Charlee Ward of San Marcos. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and good friends.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Harrison on his “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harrison Ward, please visit our flower store.