Joan Eccles Ward

JOAN ECCLES WARD, age 75, of Bel Air, died on May 20, 2008 at her home. Born in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Byron and Althea Arceneaux Eccles. She grew up in Chevy Chase, MD, graduated from the University of Maryland, and moved to Harford County in 1954. She was involved in numerous community and charitable activities, including service as president of the Rotary Club Inner Wheel, a leadership position in the Cub Scouts, public and private school projects, and participation in the renovation of the Liriodendron. She enjoyed playing golf, traveled around the globe, and was a founding member of a local Bridge Club that played regularly for nearly 50 years. She was devoted to her husband and children and was very active in raising her family. As wife to the head of one of Harford's premiere engineering and architectural firms, she played a vital behind-the-scenes role in the county's growth and prosperity over the past half century.

Mrs. Ward is survived by her husband, who she married in 1954, Frederick Yates Ward of Bel Air, MD; two sons, Byron Ward and his wife, Anne-Marie, of Apple Valley, CA and Craig Ward and his wife, M. Teresa Garland, of Bel Air, MD; a daughter, Tracy Kolesov and her husband, Boris, of Bel Air, MD; a brother, James Eccles of Austin, TX; a sister, Althea Wallace of Potomac, MD; and five grandchildren, Catherine Ward of Las Vegas, NV, James Ward of Apple Valley, CA, Adam Ward of Baltimore, MD, Laurie Sweeney of Cockeysville, MD, and Caroline Pugsley of Pylesville, MD.

Contributions may be made to the Towson University Foundation, c/o the Joan and Fred Ward Scholarship Fund, 8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252.