WARD, PAUL B.
WOLCOTT—Paul Bennet Ward, 38, of Wolcott, a Marine Corps hero during World War II, died unexpectedly Thursday [November 3, 1960] in the Veterans Hospital at Bath. He had entered the hospital only the day before, following a sudden illness.
He was one of the three Ward brothers of Wolcott, noted in Wayne County for receiving numerous medals and citations for outstanding combat duty during the war. Each held the rank of sergeant—Paul and Lacey in the Marine Corps, and Merritt with Patton’s Third Army.
As a gunnery sergeant, Paul served six years with the Marines, having enlisted in September, 1940, prior to Pearl Harbor.
He received his training at Parris Island and was awarded five Combat Stars on his South Pacific campaign ribbon for action at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Florida Island, New Georgia and Emirau.
He also received the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with one star, awarded to the remaining men of the First Marine Division as a unit for their heroic fighting in the Guadalcanal offensive.
After two years of combat, he was returned to the States and stationed on the West Coast for a short time before returning to the Pacific front for service with a Marine Raider battalion.
Following the war, Ward served as commander of Wolcott Memorial Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and also as commander of the Wayne County VFW. He also was a member of the Wolcott Volunteer Fire Dept.
The son of Edgar B. and Louise Loveless Ward, he was born June 6, 1922, in the Town of Butler. He was employed by Paddock Hardware of Wolcott.
Surviving are his wife, Fern Chase of Wolcott; a son, Terry Lee Ward of Wolcott; his father, Edgar Ward of Wolcott; a sister, Mrs. George (Frances) Dustman of Rochester; two brothers, Merritt E. and Lacey M., both of Wolcott.
A military service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in the Robertson Funeral Home with burial in Sodus Rural Cemetery. The Rev. Herbert J. Gordon, pastor of the Wolcott Methodist Church, will officiate and military honors will be presented by Wolcott Post 881, American Legion. Friends may call Saturday evening and Sunday at the funeral home.