Richard William Ward, 60, of Laramie died Friday, July 8, 2005 at the Veterans Administration in Sheridan, WY.  He was born April 11, 1945 in Riverside, California the son of Orland W. and Dixie (Overton) Ward.  The family moved to Laramie in the late 1940s where he attended schools and graduated from Laramie High School in 1963.  He then went on to attend the University of Wyoming, majoring in Physical Education, however, his schooling was interrupted when he was called to active duty during the Vietnam Era.  He served his country as a Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division in Viet Nam and was awarded the Purple Heart.  After his discharge he returned to Wyoming where he continued to work and enjoyed the beauty of nature.  Rick loved his family, was a loyal and devoted friend, and was an avid sports fan.  He especially enjoyed the companionship of his dogs.

He was a member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 582, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2221, the Husted-Pendleton American Legion Post No. 14, the Vietnam Veterans, and the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He was preceded in death by his father.  He is survived by his mother, Dixie Ward, of Laramie, WY; a brother, Tex Ward, and his wife, Susan, of Thousand Oaks, CA; two nephews, Jeffrey Ward and his wife Kelli of Jackson, WY and Matthew Ward and his wife Mitzi of Thousand Oaks, CA.

Memorial services will be held Friday, July 15 at 3:00 p.m. at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home with the Reverend Dr. Dwight A. Neuenschwander officiating.  Concluding services will be conducted by the Sigma Chi Fraternity.  Memorials may be made to the Rick Ward Vietnam Era Veterans Fund in care of the First National Bank of Wyoming, Trust Department, P.O. Box 490, Laramie, WY 82073.

Copied from Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home obituary web site.  It also appeared in the Laramie Boomerang.