DEPARTED THIS LIFE, Mrs. Patricia Ward, widow of Aubrey Ward, on August 24, 2026 at her St. Paul home following a long period of declining health. She was in the 87th year of her age.
To read Mrs. Ward’s full obituary, click this link: Obituary information for Patricia L. Ward
The following tribute to Mrs. Ward was written by David Gregory:
I don’t remember the first time I met Mrs. Ward, but I was probably around four years old. Like several other moms, who have also left us now, she was always there looking after a pack of six or seven little boys running around on the Deacon baseball field during football games. As we grew up she, like the other moms, was there in the concession stand supporting the team or cheering for us from the bleachers at away games.
One summer afternoon when I was 10 or 11, Rob Salyer and I were leaving the town pool headed up the path to Grey Hill. We heard a voice call out to us just as the drizzle became a downpour. Mrs. Ward told us to come to their house before we got struck by lightning. We made it inside before getting drenched. She and Jimmy were about to have lunch and of course she fed us too. Mrs. Ward was like that, always kind and helpful in whatever way was needed.
When I was in high school, I was a member of the Deacon Marching Band. On the night the Deacon football team snapped their 44-game losing streak, the entire home side bleachers along with the band rushed the field and began celebrating with the team. After a moment of calm Mr. Ward announced to the group that there was going to be a celebration with food at their house. I don’t know how they did it but I’m sure she was at the heart of it. Within an hour, half of St. Paul was having a picnic at the Ward home.
One afternoon after senior league practice, Jimmy and I played for the Expos, Dad (the late Allen Gregory) and I were headed home when I realized I had left my gear on the bleachers. He turned around at Ma and Pa’ s, and we went back to get it. We looked all over but couldn’t find my duffle bag. When we got home, Mrs. Ward and Mom were waiting for us on the front porch with my duffle bag. She told me that Jimmy had seen it after we left and was going to call. She told me that she was on her way to the Pig (Piggly Wiggly) anyway and didn’t mind going out of her way to drop it off. I thanked her very much, especially because inside the bag was my Pete Rose autographed program.
Whether it was something you needed help with at the Town Hall or the swimming pool or whatever the case was, Mrs. Ward was always there to help. The last time I saw her was at the St. Paul Food City about two years ago. We talked for about fifteen minutes mostly about the St. Paul Square Dancing Club that Mr. Ward put together. My parents and large number of other couples in the St Paul area were members and enjoyed it thoroughly. When we got to her car, she hugged me and said have a nice night. I had no idea that would be the last time I saw her. She will be missed by her family and a great number of friends in our Deacon family.
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