Irvin Morris Ward Jr.

Irvin M. Ward, Jr., 83, departed this life on March 1, 2022. A Homegoing Celebration will be held at 3:00pm, Friday, March 18, 2022, with a visitation from 2:00-3:00pm, preceding the service at Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home. Interment with Full Military Honors will be conducted on Monday, March 21, 2022 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was born on January 20, 1939 to the union of the late Ervin M. and Idell Beatrice (Kelly) Ward in East Saint Louis, Illinois. He attended Garfield Elementary, Carver Middle, Rock Junior High, and East Saint Louis High Schools before dropping out in 1956. On July 5, 1958 he was united in holy matrimony to the late Norma Jean Woods and to this union, four children were born, Kevin Anthony, Tonie Rene (aka Nailah Hameed), Irvin Morris, III, and Gail Anette. He later met and married Wilma Elaine Taylor on April 30, 2010. He acquired two step children after this union, Victoria Lamb and Melvin Lamb.

Irvin is survived by his beloved wife, Wilma Ward; his children, Kevin Anthony Ward, Tonie Rene (aka Nailah Hameed), Irvin Morris Ward, III, Gail Warner (Robert Warner), Victoria Lamb, and Melvin Lamb; his grandchildren, Karim, Juba, Kaamilyah and Jewel Hameed, Edward J. Brown, II, Darren M. Brown; his five great grandchildren, Ameera, Beauty Divine, Walee, Suleimon and Lugman Hameed; and his brother, Donald Ward.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin M. Ward, Sr. and Idell B. Ward; his first wife, Norma Jean Ward; his son-in-law, Walee Hameed; and his siblings, Ohella Townsend, Eugene Ward, Loraine Williams, David Ward, and Larry Ward.

Irvin served 41 years of combined service in the United States Army and Department of Defense. He served both in combat, operational, and administrative positions.

His first ten years of service (1960-70) were as a combat engineer and he served in Vietnam as a combat demolition NCO. He earned his GED in 1963 and a college degree in Organizational Behavior in 1984 from Park University. Due to nearly fatal injuries in 1969, Irvin tested and qualified for work in operations and administration, where he performed his remaining years of military service (1971-83).

Irvin served three tours in Germany (1962-65, 1971-74, 1981-83), one tour in Vietnam (1966-67), and one tour in Korea (1970-71). During his service, Irvin received both General and Senior Officer Recognitions that include the Meritorious Awards and Decorations illustrating his commitment to the Country, unit, family, and self. As a soldier, Irvin rose through the military ranks and made Staff Sergeant with only six years of service, and went on to become a First Sergeant; he retired as a Master Sergeant.

As a Department of Defense employee, Irvin continued his diligence and commitment to duty. He consistently earned acknowledgement for outstanding service. Irvin earned the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, certificates of achievement, superior performance awards, and many letters of appreciation and commendations.

Upon retirement from Military Service, Irvin became a civil servant at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and worked at the Command and General Staff College as an education technician, academic counselor, editorial assistant, and print manager for the entire college, consisting of five schools at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Irvin retired in 1998.

Following retirement, Irvin moved with Wilma from his beloved home in Lansing, Kansas to Kearney, Missouri, and spent his remaining years traveling around the country, camping, and maintaining their home.

Irvin’s favorite sports were tennis and golf. Irvin was a member of the Postal Commemorative Society. He received his fifteen minutes of fame in 2000, when he appeared in the USA Today Financial pages for his success in high tech stock and mutual funds trading.

Arrangements were entrusted to Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home, 119 E. Franklin St., Liberty, Missouri.