Francis "Frank" Xavier Ward

Francis (Frank) Xavier Ward, 91, returned to his Heavenly Home, Monday, October 03, 2022. He was born and raised in New York City, the youngest of three children. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force and served four years at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA. He enjoyed a long career in finance and banking as a loan officer. When he was 72, the bank he was working for finally agreed to his retirement. He was always interested in people, wanting to know how they were, what was happening in their lives. He had a large customer base at the bank, made good loans and made a lot of money for the bank.

Frank loved baseball and was a lifelong Yankees fan! Occasionally, as a youth, he would sneak into games at Yankee Stadium. During this current season, his children purchased a Major League Baseball streaming subscription for him. He was able to see Aaron Judge's 61st home run. He loved those games. He also enjoyed many decades of running road races, completing one marathon, several half marathons, and many 5 & 10Ks.

He survived 53 happy, challenging, years with his wife, Sheril. She had a way of always making life fun and full of the unexpected through humor and practical jokes.

After his retirement, he served in the Seattle Washington Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This brought him great joy. He served there weekly for 16 years. His testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ was very dear to him.

Frank was a hard worker, provided well for his family, and he loved and served in the church. He had a good sense of humor, and was laughing and joking up until the end of his life. He also found joy in daily reading of newspapers and the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon.

Frank had Alzheimer's for many years but, due to a healthy lifestyle, medications, extremely slow Alzheimer's progress, and really good care, he retained many of his functions. Even in the last year when life started getting more challenging, he continued in good spirits and had a ready smile and "How are you?" for all. Almost to the end, he had a love of food, his two newspapers, Almond Joys, his money purse and people.

He is survived by his wife, Sheril, and children, April, Willis, Greg, and Stephanie, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his 20-year-old son, Mark, his parents, and his brother and his sister. He is now happily reunited with them and other dear friends who left this earth life before him.

A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, November 5 at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints at 131 101st Street SE, Lake Stevens, Washington 98258.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SchaeferShipmanFuneral.com for the Ward family.