Carolyn Louise (Smith) Ward, 71, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt from Oregon , Ohio went to be with the Lord on March 7, 2010. After a lengthy illness, she passed away peacefully at Hospice of Perrysburg with her devoted family never leaving her side.
Carolyn was born on February 15, 1939 in Toledo to Lily Ruth (Erdmann) and Charles A. Smith. She met, then later married Richard (Whitey) Ward on November 1, 1958. As one of fifteen children, she had great experience in caring for her younger siblings which prepared her to be the wonderful and unselfish mother that she was. Carolyn opened her home to any friend or relative who was in need of a place to stay, and was second mother to many in the neighborhood. After her family was grown, Carolyn returned to school to finish her high school education and pursue a nursing degree which she achieved at the age of fifty. She spent the next ten years working at Mercy Hospital before retiring in 1999.
Carolyn, Whitey and family could often be found camping and canoeing near the Great Lakes area or vacationing in Florida . She enjoyed her monthly outings to restaurants with nieces and especially looked forward to adventures with her dear childhood friend, Dolores Petty. Most of all, however, she delighted in spending time with her family, sharing Friday night television with her daughters and ordering in pizza. She was the world's best grandma, always offering to keep the grandchildren for an overnight stay and share special time alone with each of them. She attended New Harvest Church in Oregon .
She is survived by her soul mate of 51 years, Richard (Whitey) Ward; daughters, Penny (Jim) Bollin and Pamela (Dean) Buck; grandchildren, Ethan and Kayle Bollin and Chelsea, Kaylee and Kyle Buck. Also surviving are her sisters, Judy (Al) Simon, Margaret Schafer, Mary Mockbee, Erma Sheehan; brothers, Jim (Rose), Earl (Carole), Ronald, William (Jeannette), and Kenneth Smith. Carolyn's in-laws include, Walter (Sue) Ward and Marilyn Williams, along with many, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Charles A. and Frederick N. Smith; sisters, Lois Smith, Anna Sheetz, and Virginia Killian. Carolyn will be sadly missed by her loving family
Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 2:00 ��'œ 5:00 pm. and 6:00 ��'œ 9:00 pm. at Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 South Coy Rd. at Starr Ave. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 am Thursday at the funeral home officiated by Pastor Mike Przybylski. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to' Food for Thought" at New Harvest Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio and the ICU nursing staffs at both St. Vincent and St. Charles Hospitals for their wonderful and compassionate care. In addition, many thanks to her faithful friends and neighbors, especially, Dolores, Shirley, Patsy and all who were a great comfort to her during her last weeks.
Visitation: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2:00-5:00 and 6:00-9:00 pm
Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home
440 S. Coy Road at Starr Avenue
Oregon, Ohio 43616
Services: Thursday, March 11, 2010
11:00 am
Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home
440 S. Coy Road at Starr Avenue
Oregon, Ohio 43616
Interment: Restlawn Memorial Park