Thomas M. Ward
Thomas M. Ward, 74, of Butler died Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born on April 8, 1939, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of the late James Ward and Eleanor (Dolan) Ward.
Tom was a graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Pittsburgh. He attended Western New Mexico University on full athletic scholarship for basketball, baseball and football, and graduated with honors in 1964. He went on to receive his master's degree in secondary education, and in 1996 was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tom taught science and health in the Moniteau School District for 34 years, also coaching basketball, football and golf. He retired in 2001.
He was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler, various golf leagues in the Butler area, enjoyed all sports and especially coaching his children in soccer, basketball and baseball.
Surviving are his wife, Jo Beth (Vero) Ward, who he married on July 18, 1980; his four children, Michael Ward of Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Ward of Butler, Sam Ward of Pittsburgh and Tom Ward of Butler; his brother, Leo Ward of Gettysburg; and his two sisters, Esther Poljak and Elizabeth Latz, both of Pittsburgh.
He was preceded in death by his three brothers and his three sisters.
WARD — The friends of Thomas M. Ward, who died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. The Rev. Harry Bielewicz, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Butler.St. Paul's Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church to recite the rosary.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
