Robert Bob Marion Ward

retired Army Infantry Colonel, died of cancer on April 27, 2015, at age 88. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Betty Mayher Ward, his parents Col. Frank Ward and Mary Nicoson Ward, a brother Jim and a sister Peggy. His survivors include five children,Maura (Joel), Chris (Christine), Melanie, Frank (Cheryl), and Jim (Beth), nine grandchildren (Michael, Lena, Wayne, Brian, Jeffrey, Zack, Amy, Nicola, and Joe), and 5 great grandchildren (Ilya, Gavin, Levi, Avery, and Frank). Col. Ward had an illustrious military career spanning 3decades in which he commanded platoons, a company and a battalion during his line assignments. He served in Germany, Korea, Kansas, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and at the

Pentagon. He fought in the Vietnam War in 1967, serving as a deputy Brigade

Commander, Division Plans and Operations Officer and Division Chief of staff in the

25th Infantry Division. Shortly after returning from Vietnam, he entered Army automation,

commanding the computer Systems Command Support Group charged with automating and

standardizing Army post Personnel, Finance and Logistic systems. The Support Group under

his command developed the systems that were installed in over 20 Army installations. His final

assignment was Deputy for Tactical Systems where he developed automated systems for the

combat Army. He retired in 1975 and settled in Alexandria, spending many recent winters

in Melbourne, FL. Among his decorations were the Combat Infantry Badge, the

Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal

(3 awards). Following his retirement, he solved computer problems at the United Mine Workers

Union and then became their comptroller. He left there to fix computer problems with the

National Flood Insurance Association. After a short period as a salesman for Value

Engineering in Alexandria, VA, he became a Legal Administrator, first working for Donald

Murtha & Associates on USPS personnel problems and then joining the law firm of Carr,

Jordan, Coyne and Savits in Washington, DC, from which firm he retired after 15 years service

as their administrator. Upon retirement, he was active in investment management,

genealogy, golf, and was a volunteer tax counselor for AARP. He was a member of

Aldersgate United Methodist church, the Sons of the American Revolution and The

Retired Officers Association. He was born in Vermillion, South Dakota, the son of an Army

Officer, and attended Sullivans Prep School in DC before entering West Point. He earned a

Masters Degree at Syracuse University in 1958 and studied finance at night at American

University completing all but the disssertation for a Ph.D. by 1961. He attended a

number of Army schools and was a graduate of the Air War College. He taught college-

level and graduate level courses for American University, George Washington University

and the University of Maryland at nights during a number of his military assignments.

A chapel ceremony at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 9:00 am followed by burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Contributions to his memory may be made to the Association of

Graduates, West Point, NY, or to The American Cancer Society. Arrangements by

Demaine Funeral Home, Alexandria, Virginia. www.demainefuneralhomes.com.