Helen Ward Obituary

Helen Margaret (Wagoner) Ward, 94, of Glen Ellyn, passed away August 28, 2012 at Sunrise of Glen Ellyn, where she had resided since February of 2010. Helen was born on August 19, 1918 to Joseph and Ida Wagoner. In 1936 she graduated from Glenbard High School (now West) and attended the American Conservatory of Music before embarking on a successful career in music. On March 3, 1945 she married LTJG Donald C. Ward while he was on shore leave in San Diego. They built a home in Glen Ellyn where they raised two sons and lived together until she suffered a stroke in 2009. Helen is survived by her sons, Ron (Mary) Ward of Glen Ellyn and Russ (Diane) Ward of Crystal Lake; grandsons, David (Mala) Ward of Jersey City, NJ, Brian (Kim) Ward of Chicago, and Sean Ward of Bend, Oregon; and granddaughters, Stella, Scarlet and Skylar Ward. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Raymond; and most recently by her older sister, Lois who passed away in January of this year at 98; by her husband, Don who passed away in 2010 on the 65th anniversary of their wedding; and by her grandsons, Benji (1978) and Aaron (2009). Helen performed with the Chicago Opera Company and appeared with popular artists in the finest venues in New York, Detroit, Chicago and other cities during the war, including the Chicago Theater and the Empire Room. She was a soloist at the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton for 20 years. Helen volunteered with the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, serving as Village Historian, docent at Stacy's Tavern Museum, and co-author of Glen Ellyn: A Village Remembered. A Memorial Celebration is planned for Sunday, September 9 at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL, 60137; 630-469-1867. Visitation at 1 p.m., service at 2 p.m. For more information please call 815-455-7881 or 630-942-1416.