Merle F. Ward

Visitation for Merle F. Ward, 88, Lawrence, will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Mr. Ward died Thursday, April 26, 2007, in Douglas County.He was born April 14, 1919, in Logan County, in a sod house, one of two children born to Wesley and Elmyra Broyles Ward.Mr. Ward served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He was a farmer and had worked as a crane operator for Hoisting and Portable Engineers Local 101 in Topeka.He married Catherine E. Perry on Dec. 16, 1942, in Cambridge, Mass. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include two sons, Kenneth, San Jose, Calif., and Darrel, Lawrence; a daughter, Sandra, Ecaussinnes, Belgium; and five grandchildren, James, Megan, Emily, Sarah and Joseph.Mr. Ward was preceded in death by a son, Robert, and his sister.The family suggests memorials to Douglas County Senior Center, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.Online condolences may be sent at www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Ward.