MAYVILLE – John Taylor Ward, 91, of West Lake Road, Mayville, died surrounded by love and peace at his home on Saturday (June 20, 2015).
John was born March 29, 1924 at Fort Sam Houston, TX, the son of the late Col. John T. Ward and the late Betty King Ward Fisher.
A veteran of the US Army during World War II he was an Anti-Tank gunner with the 357th infantry in the hedgerows of Normandy, and discharged after the war from OCS Armored School at Fort Knox, KY. Growing up he completed schools in the Philippines, Branchville, TX, Long Branch, NJ, Chattanooga, TN, Junction City, KS, Sausalito, CA, and Roswell, NM, New Mexico Military Institute, George Washington University, and National Academy of Broadcasting.
With two partners he built WKOB radio station in North Adams, Mass., he had also been a Time Salesman for WNAB in Bridgeport, Conn., and the Commercial Manager of WLCR in Torrington, Conn. Retiring from broadcasting he was sales manager of J.F. Farmer Co., and a Studebaker dealer in the Berkshires of Mass. He was Territory Manager of Wyeth Laboratories in Philadelphia, PA covering Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties for 15 years retiring in 1971 and joining Shults-Gage Chevrolet as salesman and later Lease Manager, and then with Hartley Buick. John also worked several years at Dotson Motors with Ron Dotson & Bob Woodard before retiring in 1987.
John was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon SAE he was pledged at Massachusetts State chapter "Mass Kappa" initiated at MIT on founders day and later a member of Washington City RHO SAE. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and Elk's in North Adams, Mass. Locally he was a member of the Jamestown and Mayville American Legions, and Lake Chautauqua Memorial Post VFW in Mayville, also he was a board member of the Magnolia Cemetery.
John was a musician who loved writing songs, entertaining as a pianist, being a drummer, and playing the guitar. John was always the hit of a gathering when he got out his guitar or played some terrific foot stomping boogie-woogie on the piano.
He was also a philosopher and loved everybody, he would help anybody that needed him.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Harper Ward whom he married 36 years ago on April 28, 1979 in Ashville, NY; six children, John (Beth) Ward and their children Andrew Ward and Marcia Murray; Robert (Carol) Ward and their children Jennifer Wildvank, Jessica Vargas, and Kyle Ward; Edward (Dawn Lundmark) Ward and their children Nicole Haley, and Robert Ward; William (Dena) Ward and their children Bille and Alice Ward; Betty Jane (Jim) Berdine and their children Derek, Eric, Taylor, and Jerod Hendrickson; Peter Ward and his children Riley and Cameron Ward; two step daughters, Janet (Dale) Weatherlow and their children Ryan McChesney and Zachary Weatherlow; and Sue (Mark) Graziano and their children Travis, Nick and Rachel Fisher; 11 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Jane Windover Ward who died in 1974; and a grandson, Joshua McChesney.
The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church in Chautauqua. Rev. Carmen Perry will officiate. Burial will be in the Magnolia Cemetery.
The family will receive friends for one half hour prior to the funeral service Friday at the church.
Following the service at church, Military honors will be held at the Magnolia Cemetery. After there will be a reception at the Chautauqua Fire Department.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750 or to Chautauqua Fire Department Rescue Squad, Box F, Chautauqua, NY 14722.
The Freay Funeral Home in Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
To leave a remembrance or to light a candle go to www.freayfuneralhome.com.