Richard Ward

Richard Leslie Ward

Oct 18, 1943 – Sept 16, 2026

Richard Leslie Ward passed away on September 16, 2026. He was born on Oct 18, 1943, in Bloomfield, New Jersey to Frederick and Pearle (Gillikin) Ward. As a boy, he loved music, participating for some years in a boys’ church choir. In high school he became proficient on the trumpet, which he enjoyed playing his entire life, including some years with Bethany Brass in Mount Vernon. When the Skagit Symphony began, he joined it early on. Music was one of his lifelong joys.

He earned his BA degree from Rutgers University, and a degree in Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He served an internship at the Mott Haven Reformed Church, at that time a mostly African American community, in the South Bronx in New York City. And during that time, thanks to mutual friends, he met his future wife, Maryanne Beukelman.

They were married on June 30, 1969, in the Reformed Church in her little rural hometown of Harrison, SD with his brother-in-law, the Rev. Raymond Ortman, officiating. It was quite an adventure for him, his Mom, and his sister who were used to the greater New York City environment! He always joked about being the “big city boy” who married the “South Dakota farm girl.”

From 1969 to 1972 he served as Pastor at the Kew Gardens Reformed Church in Kew Gardens, New York City. Although he has always loved the church, he found a more satisfying job in Hamilton, OH as the manager of a juvenile detention center. He also achieved a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH during that time AND both their children, Nathan and Christina, were born in Hamilton---a very busy few years!

In 1976 the family moved to Mount Vernon, WA where he started as a misdemeanant probation officer but soon became the Director of Misdemeanant Probation and Compliance for the Skagit County District Court. He served in that capacity until his retirement. He found it challenging but also rewarding to interact with probationers, hoping that he and his team could not only ensure they met court orders, but also help them find a better life path.

Although he had left the professional ministry, his faith and church life were always a very important part of his life. He occasionally served as guest preacher, served on various committees, and led adult classes and discussion groups. He especially loved participating in the music life of the church---enjoying the hymns, choir singing, occasionally playing his trumpet, and in general enjoying so much that aspect of his spiritual life.

He loved being a father to his son Nathan and daughter Christina. He so enjoyed family life, especially in our Pacific Northwest outdoors, taking his family canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and attending his kids’ sports and school events. He and Maryanne helped coach one of the first U-8 kids’ soccer teams in Mount Vernon, which his son Nathan played on, even though they’d never played themselves and didn’t have much of an understanding of the game! He loved that his daughter Christina played the trumpet, just like her Dad! And he loved getting her to swim meets during her high school years. He encouraged his children to follow their dreams and loved seeing their life paths emerge.

In his early retirement, he joined his wife and other friends to form Ghana Together, a non-profit working with local leaders in the town of Axim, Ghana to help with orphaned children, education, library services, and other community projects. He and Maryanne loved traveling to Ghana several times to develop and oversee projects. They enjoyed traveling in their retirement years, visiting several countries in Europe, Mexico, attending their son’s wedding in Bogota, Colombia, going back to the New York City area frequently, and driving back and forth to her hometown in rural South Dakota.

In his later years, Rich loved his men’s book group---long-time friends who got together to discuss a book and who knows what else! He enjoyed walking the track in the YMCA with his pal Jim and walking the paths in our beautiful Mount Vernon parks with his walker.

Rich leaves his wife Maryanne and their two children, Nathan Ward (Diana) and Christina Alvarez (Ben), granddaughters Lila and Maya, and his sister Elizabeth Ortman. Rich appreciated so much the many visits, support, and prayers from friends during his last years. He struggled with multiple health issues, and his family is grateful for the wonderful care he received from Mountain Glen Assisted Living and Hospice of the Northwest. A memorial service will be held at Mount Vernon 1st United Methodist Church on Oct 10 at 2pm. Memorial gifts may be made to Mount Vernon 1st United Methodist Church or to Hospice of the Northwest, which provided such wonderful care and support in his last days.