William E. (Bill) Ward III, part-time resident of Raton, was born March 15, 1928, in Salem, Ohio, and passed away January 3, 2024, in Bryan, Texas.
Bill’s parents were William E. and Florence Martin Ward. His father was a dentist in Salem, Ohio, and his mother was an elementary school teacher. Bill graduated from Salem High School in 1946 and continued his education at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He graduated with a degree in Zoology and served in ROTC while in college, earning him a commission into the Air Force. He deferred his commission to pursue his Master’s degree in Marine Biology at Duke University in Beaufort, NC where he spent two years classifying coastal nematodes. During this time he met his future wife, Elizabeth Hendricks House.
After completing his Masters degree in 1952, Bill was hired at West Georgia College in Carrolton, Georgia. He served in multiple capacities as Dean of Men, Biology teacher, and basketball coach until 1955.
August 11, 1954, was a very special day for Bill. He married the love of his life, Elizabeth, and quickly began building their family.
When Bill’s deferred commission ended in 1954, he mustered out of New Jersey and was stationed in London, England. He served as the base commander’s advocate and was given the duty of Color Guard Commander. Additionally, he oversaw the first American football game played in Norway.
In 1958, Bill was stationed at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM. He was given a covert assignment with Project Mercury, and his team was responsible for HAM, the first astrochimp sent into outer space.
Upon completion of Project Mercury, Bill was stationed at the Air Force Academy from 1962 until 1975 where he served as Life Sciences Department Chair and Pre-Med Advisor. Bill was given a two-year sabbatical to complete his PhD in Physiology, which he successfully defended in 1967 at Kent State University in Akron, Ohio.
Bill was a Vietnam veteran.
But, Bill wasn’t nearly through. Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1975, he accepted a position at Texas A&M University as Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs for the newly created College of Medicine. He served as an integral part of the success at the medical school for the next twenty years, after which he retired as Dean Emeritus.
Bill was a practicing Christian and was very involved with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Bryan, TX serving as a vestry member, chalice bearer and lay reader. He served as State Chairman of the American Diabetes Association of Texas, president of the Opera and Performing Arts Society Guild of Texas A&M University, and had been a Rotarian since 1980. Bill had an affinity for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family. He loved traveling around the world with Elizabeth, his family and friends. Bill really enjoyed spending time in New Mexico, and even purchased a summer home in his beloved Raton. He appreciated the special history and culture of the Southwest. While in Raton, Bill and Elizabeth attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lee, his son Bill, and daughter-in-law Kathy.
William is survived by his wife Elizabeth of Bryan, TX, daughter Pamela Huston (and husband Brian) of Laguna Vista, TX, son John Ward (and wife Susan) of Raton, son Joseph Ward (and wife Manuela) of Fort Worth, TX and son Ashley Ward (and spouse HM Burleson) of Colorado Springs. Bill was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services for William E. (Bill) Ward III are pending.
