Wharton farmer served on school board in the '40s

11/14/2000

WHARTON, O. - Lloyd E. “Rusty” Ward, a lifelong Richland Township farmer, died, apparently of congestive heart failure, Saturday in his Wharton residence. He was 96.

Mr. Ward, a native of rural Wharton, grew up on a family farm.

“He was a staunch member of the community,” his oldest son, John, said.

“He was certainly one of the most respectful people in the community and a great guy,” John Ward said.

“Even in his final moment he was apologizing for showing pain and discomfort to people around him,” his son said.

He graduated from the former Wharton Village School in 1925 and continued to work on the family farm.

Two years later, he married his wife, Lucille.

“He was a hard-working farmer and a kind husband,” said his wife of 73 years.

Mr. Ward raised beef cattle until the early 1960s when he gradually switched to farming crops such as corn, oats, wheat, soybeans. He retired in 1970 and leased his land to other farmers.

In addition, Mr. Ward had served on the Wharton board of education during the late 1940s, before the school consolidated with other districts in the area.

In his retirement, Mr. Ward liked to travel and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, his son said.

Mr. Ward was a member of the Wyandot County Farm Bureau, a life member of Wharton First Church of God, and a charter member of Wharton Lions Club.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, Carey, where visitation will be after 2 p.m. today.

Surviving are his wife, Lucille; sons, John and Joe; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The family requests tributes to the Johny Lazor Memorial Park Fund, Lakewood, O., or to a charity of the donor's choice.