Sharon Lee Ward

She died peacefully in her home in the presence of her oldest son. ‘Sherry’, as she was known by many, was born in Evansville, Indiana, in June 1932. Her parents Jesse Utley and Bertha Mae (Pool) Hoskins, raised her and an older sister, Nancy Mardel in a modest home on East Delaware Street. Sharon spent her first 31 years in Evansville. She attended and graduated from Bosse High School in 1950. She became a certified beautician and ran her business from the basement of her home. In 1953, Sharon married a professional boxer name Edward Warren. They did not have any children and divorced after a year of marriage. In 1957, Sharon married James Patrick Ward in June of 1957. They were married for 53 years until Pat Sr. passed away in 2010. They had two sons, James Patrick Ward, Jr. and Timothy Brian. In 1963, Sharon moved her boys to Huntington Park, California to join her husband, who had migrated earlier to find work. In 1967, the family moved to Costa Mesa, California and rented a house before buying the home in 1970 that Pat Sr. and Sharon lived in for the rest of their lives. During her long life, Sharon befriended many people with her sharp wit and generosity. She worked in a vitamin packaging factory and at K-mart to help provide money for raising her sons.

Throughout her life, Sharon was very devoted to her family and her Christian faith. She attended and was very active in the First Methodist Church of Costa Mesa. Members of the congregation raved about her potluck dishes. Sharon always made sure that company did not go away hungry. Despite immobility and pain, Sharon lived independently in the family home up until her final day.

This loving woman graced the hearts of family and friends during her life of 91 years. She was preceded in death by her parents (1977), her husband (2010), her sister (2013), her brother-in-law John H. Pruden (2014), her youngest son Tim (2021) and a step-daughter, Carleen Young (2021).

Sherry is survived by her oldest son, Pat Jr., daughter-in-law Hildy Reiser, two nieces Leslie Foley and Sarah Moody, a nephew Tom Pruden, daughter-in-law Linda Ward, three grandchildren Taylor, Lynzee and Blake, along with two great grandchildren Adele and Noah Ward, and many grand and great grand nieces and nephews. Sharon’s life will be celebrated on 13 January at Pacific View Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and provide one final meal to her family and friends.