Al Ward

Al Ward, age 70, of Abingdon, MD passed away on November 9, 2017. Born in Baltimore, Al grew up in Jarrettsville, was a graduate of North Harford High School, Strayer Business College and Harford Community College. Always a man of few words and not concerned with accolades, he began his life of service at age 20 by serving three years in the US Army as a Military Police Officer stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He served four years in the Bel Air Police Department attaining the rank of Corporal, and then served 26 years with the Office of the State Fire Marshal retiring as a Regional Commander in 2000. During his tenure with the OSFM, he served 11 years as a fire investigator and then 15 years as a regional commander which included ten years as the Bomb Squad Commander for the State of MD protecting not only the citizens of MD, but also visiting dignitaries from President Reagan to Pope John Paul II. Following his retirement, he served an additional seven years as a contractual fire safety inspector for the OSFM. For the past 11 years Al has worked as an employee and had become a close friend of Howard IV and Holly McComas at the McComas Funeral Home. During this time he made lifetime friends, whom he greatly admired and respected, and became a vital member of the McComas Funeral Home family. In keeping with his love of country, Al was instrumental in the creation of the Flag Retirement Program in Harford County where flag retirement boxes can be found at both the Edgewood and Bel Air American Legions. Under this program the landmark 500th flag was recently retired and will remain with Al forever.

Al was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Bel Air where he was an ordained Elder and Deacon. As a dedicated member of the church he was always sought after for his leadership on various committees. His hard work and dedication made him an integral leader in the faith based outreach program known as “Care Night” which coordinated a group of local churches to provide a Monday night hot meal to those in need for the last 27 years. He was a past member of the Jarrettsville and Bel Air Volunteer Fire Companies, serving on the Board of Directors for two years at BAVFC. He was a lifetime charter member, past President and Secretary of the Harford County Lodge 31, Fraternal Order of Police, and was involved in two business ventures over the years. He was an avid NASCAR fan attending races in several states and had the thrill of his lifetime on his 65th birthday driving several laps at the Dover Monster Mile in an official race car. He held season tickets to the Orioles and Ironbirds. Al was a member of a competition BBQ team, The Smokehouse Boys, where he enjoyed his involvement and where chicken was his specialty. He liked to travel to Florida and the Carolinas, spending much of his time with his brother and sister in law, and enjoyed most of all having a cold beer while watching the sunset at the American Legion Post in Madiera Beach, FL. Al’s love of God, family, country and community was obvious to all who knew him and left a lasting impression throughout Harford County and beyond.

Al was the son of the late Reverdy Lee and Charlotte Lea (Gross) Ward of Jarrettsville. He is survived by his brother Lawrence D. Ward and wife Rose of Rocky Mount, NC; his son Thomas R. Ward and wife Marie of Bel Air, Marie’s children Shannon and Nick, and Shannon’s daughter, Olivia Lee; his daughter Heidi M. Majchrzak and husband George Jr. of Bel Air, and George’s children George III and Maranda; his niece Christina Getscher and husband Michael of Abingdon; and his niece and Goddaughter Lauren Denolfi and husband James of Snow Hill, MD.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in Al’s name to First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.