Hazel Margueritte Ward, 90, surrounded by family and friends, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
Hazel was born in East Townsend and graduated from Townsend School in 1950, and she was a life-long resident of Collins.
Hazel retired from Ford Motor Company after 37 dedicated years as a spot-welder. She was a life-long member of Norwalk Calvary Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, an AWANA youth leader, a Bible School leader, as well as a helper in the nursery and kitchen. She was also very active in the Roy Program having had numerous little sisters during that time. Hazel was a member of the Wakeman Grange for many decades, helping out at the Grange fair booth each August. In addition, she represented the local grange on the state level and helped with the state grange deaf ministry.
She was an avid Western Reserve fan and supporter for anything dealing with the Roughriders. She was a scorekeeper for girls volleyball and girls basketball for many years. She helped with the athletic program by selling tickets and programs at football games and basketball games. She continued to volunteer for several days a week by mostly helping second-grade students study for math and spelling tests.
Her love of sports included not just the Roughriders, but anything Cleveland, especially the Cleveland Indians. She tried to attend at least one baseball game each year, but she would watch them every chance she got. She also enjoyed playing softball in local women’s league for many years. In addition, she coached a girls team for the NWGSL for many years, winning the league championship several times.
She is survived by her sister, Cornelia (Larry) Giesecke of Collins; brother, Warren Nelson Ward of Alabama, and a plethora of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great-grand-nieces, and great-grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Marjorie and Warren Ward, and sister Viona Carey.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, from 5 pm to 7 pm at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home, 98 W. Main Street, Norwalk, OH 44857. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 29, 2022, from 12 pm until the time of funeral service at 1 pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 250 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk, OH 44857. Burial will follow in Collins Cemetery.
Those wishing to contribute to Hazel’s memory may do so to her family, to be donated to the youth program at Calvary Baptist Church and the girls’ athletic programs at Western Reserve High School.
Fond memories and condolences may be shared online at www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Hazel M. Ward, please visit our floral store.