Donald Ward Obituary

Donald H. Ward

Born: June 25, 1926

Died: Nov. 5, 2014

Donald H. Ward, a 77 year resident of Glen Ellyn, died on November 5th 2014, at age 88, surrounded by his family. Don was born in Oak Park on June 25, 1926, to Frank W. Ward Sr. and Vida (Lyttleton). The family moved to Glen Ellyn when Don was 11.

After graduating from Glenbard (West) High School, where he was an honor student and active in radio and science clubs, he served in the Navy at Great Lakes Naval Station as a Electronic Technicians Mate. He was at the top of his electronics and radio classes and became a radar instructor by the end of WWII. Following the war, Don attended Illinois Institute of Technology graduating in 1950 with a BS in Electrical Engineering.

While studying automotive engineering at Chrysler in Detroit, he met his future wife Helen Casey, a research chemist. Don and Helen were married in 1952; Helen passed away in 2012. Don worked as an electrical engineer at Raytheon and later Borg Warner Research Center, obtaining 20+ patents.

Don was an antique automobile enthusiast, owning many classic cars over time, including a 1934 Pierce Arrow roadster. He had a great love of architecture, especially that of Frank Lloyd Wright, and hired Wright's apprentice Don Erickson to design an addition to his Glen Ellyn home. His interest in genealogy led to tracing his ancestry to the Mayflower and Revolutionary War. He served as secretary for the Illinois Sons of the Revolution for many years. Don and Helen were active members of St. Petronille parish and devoted many years to volunteer service there.

Don is the loving father of Mary Ward (Jay Nuckols), Anne (George) Bonokollie and Owen Ward; foster father of Ame Pitt; dear grandfather of Helen (Jacob) Bosacki, Maria Bonokollie, Joseph (fiance Sarah Andrews) Bonokollie, Donald, Michael, Angela and Paul Bonokollie; fond step-grandfather of Erin, Jesse and the late Byler Nuckols; great grandfather of Sebastian and Charlotte Bosacki and Lily and Jaxon Bonokollie; fond brother of the late Frank W. Ward Jr. (late Marylou) and fond Uncle of David Ward, Madeline Roth, Ellen Scarborough, and Jim Casey.

Visitation for Donald was held Sunday, November 9th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane St. Glen Ellyn (630-469-0032). Prayers at the funeral home were Monday, 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Petronille Church, 420 Glenwood Ave. Interment at Assumption Cemetery in Winfield, IL.