Obituary of
Ward, William Ross
William Ross Ward died Friday, August 10, 2018, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He was 69. His family is at peace with his passing and glad that he is finally home with his Heavenly Father. He was loved by all who knew him and was blessed to live a long and good life.
William was born in 1949 in Houston, Texas. He was the first of two children, born to Jack and Jean Ward. His younger brother is Jim Ward of San Antonio. William’s father owned a jewelry store in Houston, Gaylords; and his mother worked tirelessly for the Texas Employment Commission. He grew up in Knotty Oaks Trail, in the middle of Houston, and graduated from Westbury High. Later William moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. He put himself through school, working as a photographer shooting horse shows. After College he began his career in the jewelry industry, where he worked for 44 years.
William traveled to the surrounding states, driving over two hundred thousand miles a year. William knew every jewelry store, and the people that worked there as well as their children and maybe everything else about them. He was a people person, with the gift of gab, and could find the common ground with anybody.
He was a lifelong cyclist, had great respect for the environment and volunteered his time to others. William helped anyone who needed it. He worked with Boy Scout Troop #82 teaching the automotive badge, and would stop for anyone on the side of the road who needed a hand. He was such a skilled mechanic that he could take apart an entire Volkswagen Beetle in the morning and have it put back together by the evening.
William spent much of his free time researching his family’s lineage. Weaving the branches of the family tree was a lifelong passion project of discovery. He collected stories about the extended Ward family which otherwise may have been lost forever. His penchant for researching the past and sharing those stories, connected hundreds of people together.
William is survived by his two children: Blake (32) and Katie (27), his wife of 39 years, Sharon Hachenberger Ward of Dallas. His younger brother, Jim Ward of San Antonio.
The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful people at Presbyterian Hospital, who took such great care of William. We are grateful to all of the friends and family who continue to support us through this time. Thank you all.
Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.
Tribute Wall of Ward, William Ross
Our condolences for Bill’s family and many friends. He was our rep for many years and was truly a people-person. He never forgot anything about us or our staff. He knew our business and how to help us grow. He was one of our reps that we always enjoyed seeing in the store and at the Jewelry shows.
We will always have fond memories of Bill.
Kelly Newton
Thursday October 13, 2022
Our condolences for Bill’s family and many friends. He was our rep for many years and was truly a people-person. He never forgot anything about us or our staff. He knew our business and how to help us grow. He was one of our reps that we always enjoyed seeing in the store and at the Jewelry shows.
We will always have fond memories of Bill.
My sympathies to the Ward family on the passing of Bill. I never knew Bill but he sounds to be a wonderful man and person to all who knew him. Too young to be gone from this earth. I am sure he will be missed but there will be many fond memories.
Ronald Corn
Thursday October 13, 2022
My sympathies to the Ward family on the passing of Bill. I never knew Bill but he sounds to be a wonderful man and person to all who knew him. Too young to be gone from this earth. I am sure he will be missed but there will be many fond memories.
I am so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. I connected with him a few years ago while I was researching my Holaday ancestors. And just as recently in July I emailed him the civil war records of his ancestor, Thomas Holaday. My sincere condolences to his family. I wish I could have met him in person. Nancy Motley
Nancy Motley
Thursday October 13, 2022
I am so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. I connected with him a few years ago while I was researching my Holaday ancestors. And just as recently in July I emailed him the civil war records of his ancestor, Thomas Holaday. My sincere condolences to his family. I wish I could have met him in person. Nancy Motley
My sympathies to the family, Bill was truly a great man. I worked with Bill over the last several months to help document the history of my house, which was built by one of Bill’s relatives in Houston in 1914 (Dr. Coop). If the family would like a copy of the paper he helped me create, please let me know where I can send a copy.
Brian Boyter
Thursday October 13, 2022
My sympathies to the family, Bill was truly a great man. I worked with Bill over the last several months to help document the history of my house, which was built by one of Bill’s relatives in Houston in 1914 (Dr. Coop). If the family would like a copy of the paper he helped me create, please let me know where I can send a copy.