A MESSAGE FROM THE FAMILY

Growing up, my mother, Carolyn Ward, was my protector, my teacher, my role model, my biggest fan….my world. And that never changed. I was truly blessed to have had her as a mother and I am thankful for every moment that we spent together. I was profoundly blessed to have had such an amazing role model growing up, and to have such an amazing role model for my son and daughter. My mother spent many years of her life working in various roles that focused on the betterment of the communities in which she lived, as a teacher, working at and serving as president of The Junior League of Morristown, serving on the board of a homeless shelter in Morristown, New Jersey, as the Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Morris Area, helping to start First Night Morris County, serving on the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra board, and volunteering as a docent and garden guide at Colonial Williamsburg, to name just a few. The many different challenges she took on during her career always seemed to land her in leadership roles. Her wisdom and demeanor made her a natural fit in those roles. All the while, being an ever-present mother and providing my father, my sister and I with a Norman Rockwellesque homelife. Despite all of her amazing work, my mother was there for every moment of my life, both the mundane and the momentous, as a loving, supportive mother. My memories of her are filled with laughter, love, amazing holiday gatherings and meals, enriching experiences, and warm hugs that make any problem vanish in an instant. Many of my fondest memories of my mother growing up were of the time we spent together each summer at our family cottage on Lake Erie …. taking trips to the local candy store, eating fresh picked corn on the cob, spending time on the beach, playing croquet, working on puzzles, and just talking and spending time together. My mother was a great source of information for me in everything from gardening, to birding, to cooking, to travel, to history, to social protocol, etc., etc., which will be sorely missed. While reviewing photographs for a slideshow of my mother throughout her life, my wife commented that my decorating style is essentially just a carbon copy of my mother’s decorating style. My mother’s lifelong love and commitment to her high school sweetheart, my father, David, was a blessing and an inspiration to me. Their devotion to one another was self-evident throughout their 54 years of marriage, and beyond. Together they travelled the world with family and friends sharing experiences that will never be forgotten. I have many, many pictures of them documenting all of the adventures that they went on together, and it is heartwarming to see how happy they both looked. Over the past few years, my mother’s health had limited the number of activities that she could partake in. However, within that unfortunate situation, we were able to instead spend more time simply sharing our daily lives with each other …. albeit remotely. During that time, my wife, my daughter, and I were blessed to have had a videocall with my mother each evening when we could fill her in on all of our activities and experiences that day. My mother was able to watch her granddaughter grow and play, and we were able to interact with my mother to a degree that would not likely have happened under different circumstances. With those calls and our visits to see her, I am grateful that my mother and my daughter were able to get to know each other and develop a bond that is very precious. As my mother would say at the end of our calls … “see you later, alligator” … and, as Annamarie would respond … “after a while, crocodile.” I have been incredibly comforted by the loving support of all of the friends and family around me that knew my mother and what a wonderful, loving person she was. For that, I am very grateful. I imagine that every person that met her instantly realized what a caring, sweet, welcoming person she was just from her smile and effortless grace. She was a truly beautiful person. I love you, Mom. Christopher David Ward We encourage you to join us for a celebration of Carolyn Ward's life on Saturday, October 9th at 11AM at Williamsburg United Methodist Church; however, if you are unable to attend the celebration in person, please join us via livestream at https://www.williamsburgumc.org/worship/livestream-services.

OBITUARY

Carolyn Tamplin Ward

March 3, 1942 – September 27, 2021

IN THE CARE OF

Nelsen Williamsburg

Carolyn Tamplin Ward of Williamsburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully on 27 September 2021.

She is survived by her children, Mary Katharine Vesely (Michael) of Chesapeake, Virginia; Christopher David Ward (Kate) of Fairfax Station, Virginia; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Vesely, Kirsten Vesely, Brandon Greyson, and Annamarie Ward; and one great grandson, Sterling Vesely. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, David Burdick Ward; her sister, Nancy Tamplin Jewell; and her brother, Major William Frederick Tamplin, Jr. She also leaves behind a large extended family of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

Born on March 3, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carolyn was the second child of Mary Agnes (Miller) and William Frederick Tamplin. She grew up in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from high school. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chatham College (Class of 1964). Following graduation and marriage, she taught elementary school for three years. During a brief move to New York City while her husband served in the Coast Guard, she worked as an Area Supervisor for the American Field Service. In 1990, after raising her children, Carolyn joined the staff of The Arts Council of the Morris Area (Morris Arts) in New Jersey where she served as the Executive Director for fifteen years (1991-2006). She retired with her husband to Williamsburg in 2006.

All her life Carolyn felt very strongly about volunteering and was committed to giving back to the communities in which she lived. She was a member of The Junior League of Morristown, New Jersey, where she chaired various committees and projects as well as serving as its president. While her children were growing up, she served on a number of community boards including Morris Shelter (Homeless Solutions), United Way of Morris County, Morris Tomorrow, and First Night Morris County. Following her move to Williamsburg, she served on the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra board and volunteered for ten years as a docent at the Thomas Everard House and Wetherburn’s Tavern, and as a garden guide for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Carolyn was an avid gardener, especially of herbs. She had a deep love of wild birds and enjoyed opportunities to see them. Carolyn traveled extensively throughout her life with her husband Dave, her family, and her closest friends, seeing many far away and exciting places. Her great passion was spending time with family, especially the many years of summers spent with extended family at the family cottage on Lake Erie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM on 9 October 2021 at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, Virginia. Due to COVID protocol, masks must be worn, and we will not be able to gather following the service. Thank you for your understanding. If you are unable to attend the celebration in person, please join us via livestream at https://www.williamsburgumc.org/worship/livestream-services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

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

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