Jack Arthur Ward

Jack Arthur Ward age 89, passed away on February 26, 2022 at I.U White Memorial Hospital in Monticello. He was born May 24, 1932 to Arthur "Happy" and Eva Marquess Ward at the Home Hospital, Lafayette, Indiana.
From birth to 1944 he lived in the Yeoman Telephone Company office building. At an early age Jack was at the switchboard answering calls with, "Number Please" and knew everyones phone number. He graduated from the Yeoman Grade School and then the Monticello High School in 1950. Photography became a hobby in about 1944, and lasted for a life time. After high school he worked at Gullions Studio and Camera Shop. In 1951 he started classes at Ball State Teachers College and graduated in 1955. At Ball State he was inducted into two honorary fraternities, Epsilon Pi Tau and Delta Phi Delta. From 1955 to 1959, he was in the US Navy. He attended a Navy school for nearly a year and then served aboard a destroyer for over three years. He was a teacher at Monon High School in the early 1960s. With school consolidation, the district later became North White School Corporation where Mr. Ward continued on as a teacher until 1967. Jack enrolled at Indiana University for another degree and then he moved to Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green,Ohio. He retired from the University as Associate Professor Emeritus. He not only taught classes but was Director of the Instructional Media Services. He developed and produced many instructional media products. His hobbies included photography, electronics, ham radio (K9ZQJ), lettering, woodworking, graphics and computers. For years, he has tried to work a couple crosswords and two crypto puzzles each weekday. At one time, he figured he had worked over 25,000 puzzles. He also enjoyed submitting an occasional Letter to the Editor.
At retirement, Jack moved back to Monticello. He served many years on the board of the Yeoman Telephone Company and a couple terms on the Board of the White County Historical Society. He also was involved with Friends of the Library and was especially interested in their annual Broadway Art Show. He was a life member of AMVETS. One of his latest hobbies was producing panoramic photos.
He was married to Diane Boylan Ward from 1968 to 1980. They have a son Brian (Amy) who lives in Powell, OH. There is one grandson, Aidan. Jack married Naomi Jean Malone, a high school classmate in 1992 and she survives. There are 5 step children, and many step grandchildren and they all live in Missouri or Arkansas.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm (EDT) at Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home of Monticello.
Funeral services celebrating Jack's life will be held at 1 pm Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Kelly Lindsay of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.
Burial will follow in Yeoman Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the White County Historical Society with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Friends and family are encouraged to share a photo, a memory, or a message of condolence at www.springerfuneralhome.com