WARD, Lorraine Alice

Lorraine Alice Ward, RN, was born October 7, 1923 in Powersville, Iowa & died June 17, 2002 in Cottonwood, Arizona. The 78 years spanning those dates saw her as a loving wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother...and as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, to whom she committed the direction of her life at an early age. A resident of Payson for several years, she will be honored in a memorial service at Ponderosa Baptist Church, Payson, Monday July 8, 2002, with Dr. David R. Greene officiating. A special internment service will be held Tuesday, July 9, at National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 Cave Creek Rd. Born to the Rev. & Mrs. L.P. Hustad (both now deceased), Lorraine received her nursing education at Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Watertown, South Dakota & at the University of Minnesota. She practiced nursing in Minnesota, Illinois & California, with two of her favorite stints focusing on tiny victims of polio during the Midwest epidemic in the 40's, and later as Ship's Nurse of the Food for the Hungry mercy ship rescuing Vietnamese refugee "boat people" in the South China Sea in 1979 & 1980. Through the years her major interests, in addition to her family, were music & nursing. She served as church pianist for many years, beginning at age 12, & played the piano at Youth For Christ rallies in the Upper Midwest. While her husband, Dr. Larry Ward served as Vice President/Overseas Director of World Vision, Founder President of Food for the Hungry & as "Ambassador to the Hungry World" for the Reagan White House, the two resided in Hong Kong & in Thailand, & she joined him in special ministries throughout the world's famine & disaster areas. Lorraine, who had suffered from Alzheimer's for 20 plus years, is survived by her husband Larry, their daughter Sheri, Elementary School Principal of Scottsdale Christian Academy & Sheri's husband William Moy; her son Kevin Ward, Battalion Chief of the Chandler, AZ, Fire Department & his wife Penni; plus nine grandchildren & two great grandchildren. Grandchildren include Melissa Moy Peloke & Jonathan Ward Moy of Scottsdale, & Courtney, Colin, Chase, Colton, Mason, McKenna & Chandler Ward of Mesa. Great Grandchildren are Jordan Reed & Whitney Taylor Peloke. The family gratefully acknowledges the loving care Lorraine has received from June Pereira, Dr. Ward's associate in ministry and his caregiver in recent years. Donations to honor Lorraine's memory may be made to Viet/Aid, P.O. Box 820, Arizona City, AZ, 85223-820.