Peter F Ward

PETER FRANCIS WARD

Peter Francis Ward, of Greensboro, Georgia, died October 7, 2017. Mr. Ward was born September 27, 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts to Bernard and Jean Ward, and spent his childhood in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  He graduated cum laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and then earned an MBA in Finance from the Indiana University School of Business.  He spent the entirety of his career at NBD Bancorp, which later became JP Morgan Chase & Co., and served as the Vice President of International Banking.  Mr. Ward also participated on the boards of several hospitals and community associations.  After 33 years in commercial banking, he devoted time in retirement to making apple cider at the historic Franklin Cider Mill, and then, reasoning that everyone enjoyed receiving flowers, delivered floral arrangements near his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Whether for the bank or with his family, Mr. Ward’s greatest joy came from travelling.  He made more than 75 trips to Europe, Japan, China, and Korea as well as two outings behind the “Iron Curtain”.  He particularly enjoyed visiting friends in the U.K. and, inspired by his love of Thomas Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, was an ardent supporter of the Friends of Friendless Churches, which rescues historic churches in England and Wales.  Over the years, he accumulated more than 4,500,000 miles in the air.  Second only to his love of travel was his fondness for reading.  Always happy when settled down with a good book, he firmly held that everything one needed to know could be gleaned from reading The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times from cover to cover each day.  He shared this love of all things literary with his granddaughter, Ada, by reading stories to her nightly via Skype.  Mr. Ward was also an avid runner who completed two marathons and dozens of 10K races.

Mr. Ward married Nancy Heck, on July 31, 1965.  In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Lisa Braun (Jim) of Atlanta, Georgia, a son, Kevin Ward (Krista) of San Francisco, California, and four grandchildren, Darden, Matthew, and Davis Braun, and Ada Ward as well as his sister Emily Conlon (Jim) of Leominster, Massachusetts, two brothers, Michael Ward (Joan) also of Leominster, and Jake Ward of Carmel, Maine, and 10 nieces and nephews.  All will miss his kindness, quick wit and generosity.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church, 6341 Lake Oconee Parkway, Greensboro, Georgia 30642 with Father Roberto Herrera officiating.  Serving as honorary pallbearers are the members of the Knights of Columbus.  A reception will follow at the church in the Sacred Heart Social Hall.  The family will receive friends Friday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at McCommons Funeral Home. The rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening.

The family requests that any memorial gifts be made to the Knights of Columbus, the Ryan Library or to Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church. All gifts may be sent to the Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church, 6341 Lake Oconee Parkway, Greensboro, Georgia 30642.

McCommons Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

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