Martha Ward

Martha Ward August 4, 1918 January 3, 2013 Martha Ward passed away on Thursday, January 3, 2013. A graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 10, at Oakwood Cemetery, after which visitors will be welcome at Martha's home. Martha was born on August 4, 1918, in Sherman, Texas, the daughter of James P. and Gabrielle Brown Harrison. Mr. Harrison brought his family to Waco three months later in order for him to manage the Interstate movie theaters. At one time he managed five theaters in Waco, including the Hippodrome. Martha began school at Sanger Elementary and graduated from Waco High School in 1935. She then attended Baylor University for one year. After her freshman year she moved to Amarillo, where her parents had moved the year before. She transferred to the University of Texas at Austin for her sophomore year. Shortly after the beginning of her junior year, she left school in order to marry Joe Ward, her high school sweetheart. They were married October 25, 1937. Joe said later that his marriage to Martha was "the outstanding accomplishment of my life." He preceded her in death on October 29, 2009, after seventy-two years of marriage. Martha's husband, Joe, a UT engineering graduate, was employed by Texaco shortly after their marriage. They spent the next seven years living in various towns and oil field camps around the Texas gulf coast. In December, 1944, following the death of Joe's father, they moved back to Waco in order for Joe to manage the family business. In 1947 they moved into their new house located at what is now Hillcrest and Lake Shore Drive, where they raised a family and continued to live throughout their lives. Martha was a member of the Junior League and many other organizations. For eleven years she was assistant to Sammie Rankin at the Lighthouse for the Blind. Martha's greatest challenge was raising her three sons. The Ward house was always a welcome gathering place for her boys' friends as they were growing up. Her Christmas Eve open house was an important annual event in a number of peoples' lives for over forty years. Martha inherited a love for hunting from her father, and she was known to be a crack shot. She and Joe spent many of the happiest times of their lives together hunting and picnicking with their friends. They also traveled all over the world after raising their family. Martha is survived by her sons, Joe III Rayner and his wife, Holly, of Portland, Oregon; Harrison and his wife, Paula, of Crawford; and Jeff of Waco; grandsons, Lucas, Matthew, Emile, Nicholas, Travis and Lee; granddaughters, Jessica Ward, Ariana DeFalco, Emily Bill, and Alethea Ward; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family would like to express appreciation to devoted caregivers Janet Millsap, Pam Karlik, Evelyn Howard, Judy Barak, Lori Mckee, Jessica Maldonado and Marsha Daughtry, as well as long-time housekeeper, Rosa Pevia, and groundskeeper, George Williamson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Albans Episcopal Church, Planned Parenthood, or to a charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.