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Ward enlisted in the Navy when he was 18, and he served during World War II aboard the carrier USS Block Island. The carrier was sunk in the Atlantic on May 29, 1944, one week before the Normandy invasion and one week before his 20th birthday.
Following his Navy service, Ward worked for several railroad companies, including the Boston and Maine, New York Central, Penn Central and the Long Island Railroad.
In later years, he was a communicant of Saint Theresa's Parish, in Spring Hill. His interests, hobbies and activities were so varied that he once told his family that he was "made for retirement."
Ward is survived by his children, John Joseph Ward Jr., Patricia Vespo and Michael James Ward; sons-in-law Martin Vespo and John Woolsey Fowler, and daughters-in-law Carol Ward and Teresa Marie Ward; sister Theresa Clark; and brother James Francis Ward.
He is also survived by grandchildren Jessica Ann Ward, Jacqueline Vespo, Michael Brian Ward, Thomas Michael Ward, Martin Vespo, Matthew James Ward, Alisha Ward Fowler and Carolynn Marie Ward; many nieces and nephews; and friend and companion Yvonne Wise.
Ward was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Agnes Walsh; daughter Ann Ward Fowler; parents Thomas Patrick Ward and Eva Regina Ward; and brother Thomas Gerald Ward.
A memorial mass was celebrated at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, in Spring Hill, on Monday, Aug. 22, followed by internment at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Theresa's Parish Fund, 1107 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606.
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