Obituary of Rita Marie Ward

Rita Marie Ward, 89, of Silver Lake, Ohio, passed away on May 4, 2018.  She was born August 30, 1928 in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Wayne and Lucile Horning.  She graduated from Topeka High School and attended the University of Kansas where she met and married the love of her life, Donald Ward.  She was an early graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course.

Rita was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Donald.  She is survived by her three children, Stephen Ward, Douglas (Kathryn) Ward, and Lisa (David) Horejs, as well as her three grandchildren, Mallory, Kelly, and Alex Horejs.

Rita and Don raised their three children in Topeka, Kansas and subsequently in the wonderful village of Silver Lake, Ohio where she enjoyed a wide circle of friends.  She was a Boy Scout den mother, swim meet official and an avid bridge player, belonging to numerous bridge groups.  She was active in her community, belonging to the Silver Lake garden club, helping out at the annual Silver Lake festival, and was passionate about politics and volunteering her time at the voting polls each year.  Rita was a progressive thinker, an engaging conversationalist and a model of independence and equality in how she lived her life and raised her children.

She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoyed many family vacations to her children’s homes in Lake Lanier, Georgia, and Naples, Florida.  Rita lived most recently at the Laurel Lake Retirement Community, where she and Don made many new friends, and she continued to be a competitive bridge player, often winning first in duplicate.

Rita will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a caring and loyal friend to many. 

A memorial service will be held at Laurel Lake Community Room on June 23, 2018 at 12 PM. Memorial contributions may be given to the Laurel Lake Foundation, 200 Laurel Lake Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236