Obituary of Donald Allen Ward

Donald Allen Ward, a life-long resident and businessman of Santa Cruz, passed away after a brief illness, on February 25, 2015. Don was born in Santa Cruz in 1928 to Maurice and Wardella Ward. He attended local schools, graduating from Santa Cruz High School in 1947. During his first two years of high school his family moved temporarily to Monterey to work supporting the war effort. At 16 years old he was put in charge of a group of German Prisoners of War, and, as part of a high school project, assisted in the assembly of small arms while the entire family lived in military housing on Fort Ord. During this period Don also worked the soda fountain at the Del Monte Hotel. After the war, his family moved back to Santa Cruz. Don truly loved all things having to do with automobiles. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of working in and around the automobile business, by together with his father and brother, owning and operating Ward Motor Sales on Ocean Street for over fifty years. Don was very active in community organizations, serving a term as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, as well as serving terms on the City Parks and Recreation Commission. Don was instrumental in the development of Delaveaga Golf Course, all the while taking night courses to earn a degree from Cabrillo College. In addition, Don also served terms on the City Arts Commission, as president of the local Multiple Sclerosis Society, and was a long time member and past president of the Native Sons of the Golden West. Don was a regular attendee of the Annual Santa Cruz High School All School Reunion, and also attended Grace United Methodist Church as well as the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz. Many remember him fondly for the daily walk he took to join his friends for coffee at Marianne's Ice Cream, stopping to visit with neighbors along the way. Following retirement from the automobile business, Don and his wife Marilyn traveled the world, making lifelong friends from numerous countries. Additionally, Don and Marilyn hosted foreign exchange students who became members of an extended family. Don was also an avid skier, skiing well into his 80's. Donald is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his daughters and sons-in-law, Margo Ward (Jim) of Aptos, and Lynn Scally (Bill) of Santa Cruz, his granddaughter Ashley Scally of Santa Cruz, his brother, Harold Ward, of South Lake Tahoe, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Cindy Schuette of Santa Cruz, and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Don's life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 1:30 P.M. at the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz, 250 California Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a favorite charity.