Fletcher William Ward

Fletcher William Ward, resident of Highland Park, TX, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on May 19, 2024. Fletcher's life was a testament to longevity, resilience, and the profound impact one can have over nearly a century.

He was born on September 25, 1927, in Hebron, Connecticut, and from an early age, demonstrated a remarkable curiosity and zest for life. Fletcher grew up in a close-knit family, which instilled in him values of hard work, kindness, and perseverance.

Throughout his life, Fletcher wore many hats. He grew up sailing his catboat on the Narragansett Bay, graduated Cranston, RI. High School at the age of 16, joined the Navy serving in World War II, and later served in the Korean War with the Army. Between his time with the military, he completed a degree in engineering from Brown University, which later led to a career in sales at Bethlehem Steel.

It was this last position that took him from New England to Texas, where he met his first wife, Sally English Ward, whom he shared four children with. Together, they built a life filled with family trips to Quonochontaug, RI, sailing on Lake Texoma, and horse rides at their ranch in Melissa.

Fletcher continued on to work at Red Ball Motor Freight, eventually becoming President, and ultimately fulfilled his dream of owning his own company, Swest, Inc. His career was marked by his ingenuity, and he was known for his dedication, integrity, and innovative spirit.

Beyond his professional achievements, he was a beloved family member and well-regarded friend. He married Barbara Joan Norris in 1984 and together, they found joy in time spent with family in the mountains near Pagosa Springs, family gatherings at the ranch, and at the beach in Rhode Island.

Fletcher also spent time bettering his community. He spent hours knocking on doors for Republican candidates, and volunteering with Junior Achievement and was a member of the Young Presidents Organization. His efforts had a lasting positive impact on those around him.

Fletcher was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Fletcher Ward, Bertha Porter Ward; his sisters, Janice Ward Allen, Muriel Ward West Owler; by his first wife, Sally English Ward; second wife, Barbara Joan Norris Ward; and son-in-law, John Michael Collins, Jr. He is survived by his children, Sally Kathleen Ward Collins, Leslie Janice Ward White (Bill), Barry English Ward (Karen), and Gail Standish Ward, as well as his stepsons, John Robert Norris, III (Jan), Stephen Boudreaux Norris (Debbie), and Patrick Lawson Norris (Gina) and stepdaughter, Carol Ann Norris; precious nieces, Lorren Standish West, Stacey West Cunningham (Rick), Kristine West Serwinski (Joe); 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a dear cousin, Reginald "Bud" Ward.

Fletcher wanted to be sure to express his deepest gratitude and love to his caretakers who were invaluable help to him during his last years.

A memorial service to honor Fletcher's extraordinary life will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, June 13, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225. To view livestreaming of the service, please visit - https://vimeo.com/event/4383678

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Junior Achievement, jadallas.org, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, nmcrs.org and Wounded Warrior Project.

Fletcher’s life was a remarkable journey filled with love, accomplishments, and unwavering strength. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his memory will live in the hearts of his loved ones and all the individuals whose lives he touched.