William Leslie "Bill" Ward

William Leslie “Bill” Ward Jr., 93 of Akron, formerly of Hancock, NY went home to be with the Lord on Thursday December 8, 2016 at the Buffalo General Medical Center following a brief illness.  Bill was born April 21, 1923 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, the son of William Leslie Ward Sr. and Gladys (Renshaw) Ward.  He married Nora Mae Barriger on October 5, 1956 in Abrahamsville, Pa. 

Bill proudly served in the United States Army, retiring in 1985 from the Army National Guard as a Master Sergeant after 42 years of service.  He first served in World War II and was called back into active duty during the Korean Conflict.  Bill was honored and humbled to take the Honor Flight Buffalo to visit the World War II Memorial on May 30, 2015. Following his retirement from the service in 1985, Bill became licensed to sell annuities and insurance.  He served on the Read Memorial Hospital board, the Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library board and Assessment Board of Review in Hancock. Bill was a Hancock Town Board member and served two terms as the Mayor of Hancock before moving to Newstead in 2004.  

Bill enjoyed golf and socializing with friends he met at Newstead area restaurants. Bill kept his mind alert by always learning new things.  He was an avid reader and loved crossword puzzles.  He kept up with technology, was on his computer daily, even taking a few computer classes recently. Bill was a lifetime member of the Newstead Memorial VFW Post 318 and American Legion Post 209 in Lakewood, PA. Bill was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolcottsville, NY.  

Bill is survived by his daughters, Victoria (Daniel) Conkling, Walton; Maryellen (David) Brucker; grandchildren, Jacob (Missy) Conkling, Amy Conkling, Amanda (Ray) Moore, Lisa (Matthew) Bedford, Clifford Brucker and his fiancé Sara Ceisner; great grandchildren, Jason and Alex Moore, Travis Bedford, and Miya Conkling. A sister, Elizabeth (Esmond) Crooke and a brother, Jack (Pat) Ward; sister-in-law, Janet (Edwin) Barriger as well as several nieces and nephews and their families survive Bill. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Nora on May 27, 2003 and baby daughter, Virginia Diane in December 1958.  He was predeceased by nephew, James Crooke; niece Betsy Crooke, and great-niece Ellen Crooke.  He was also predeceased by brothers-in-law Vernon and Edwin Barriger and sister-in-law Shirley Barriger. 
        
As a final gift, Bill donated his body to the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Anatomical Gift Program. A memorial service with Military Funeral Honors will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Wolcottsville, NY on Thursday December 15, 2016 at 12:00. A reception will follow the service at the Trinity Parish Hall.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Trinity Lutheran Church, or the Newstead Memorial VFW.   
 
 
 

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