David Lee Ward, 68, of Greenfield, passed away on Monday, July 10, 2017, at Hancock Regional Hospital. Born on August 8, 1948, in Noblesville, as the son of Walter S. and Betty June (Wable) Ward.
He graduated from Noblesville High School in 1966. He served in the Army in the 19th Combat Engineer Battalion during the Vietnam War. David married Nikki F. (Mitten) on November 2, 1973, in Mohawk.
He worked for GM as a material handler for 16 years from 1966-1981. From 1983-1986 and 2008-2013, he worked for the Department of Defense as an establishment technician. He was also a substitute rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service from 1987-1990. David also worked as a warehouse manager for a Distribution Company from 1986-2008. He was a member of the American Legion Post #119, where he was a former finance officer and a member of 40&8. David was also a member of Vietnam Veterans of American, Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard and NRA. He attended Mohawk United Methodist Church. He loved his grandchildren, ATVing, camping and collecting knives, trains and coins. David was a coach for the Greenfield youth baseball and soccer teams. He was also a former Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader for Troop #242 in Greenfield.
Survived by his wife, Nikki Ward of Greenfield; children, Timothy Lee (Lisa) Ward of Fortville, Carrie (John Illy) Dillon-Illy of Mohawk and Joshua (Jeny Whitfield) Ward of Greenfield; sisters, Patty Jean Ward of Willow Branch, Ruth Ann Young of Noblesville and Janice Sue Bowen of Mohawk; mother-in-law, Nell (Murphy) Mitten of Mohawk; six grandchildren, Kyler, Timmy, Keldan, Kalen, Callaway and Tylie; four stepgrandchildren, Adrienne (Ryan), Brianna, Keara, Jo and Carley; three great-stepgrandchildren, Ashton, Tanner and Anabel; and beloved dog, Steele.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Betty Ward; and father-in-law, Walter Wiley Mitten.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 14, at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the mortuary. Reverend Charles “Woody” Thompson will be officiating. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield with military rites presented by the Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard and active duty Army.
Memorial contributions may be made by mail to the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or Mohawk United Methodist Church, 2045 W 400 N, Greenfield, IN 46140. Envelopes will be available at the mortuary.
Friends may share a memory or a condolence at erleweinmortuary.com.
