Fr. Richard John Ward Obituary (1925 - 2021)

Richard John Ward was born August 7, 1925 in Seattle. He was educated at St. Joseph's and Seattle Preparatory School. In 1943 he entered Gonzaga University in the United States Navy's V12 program, intended to educate physicians for the war effort. After graduation from St. Louis University Medical School, he completed his training in anesthesiology at Harborview and Providence hospitals. At Providence he met the love of his life, Norah Muldoon, a surgical nurse. They wed on August 5, 1950, and had three children. They remained happily married until her untimely death in 1987. He served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force, and was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, and San Antonio, Texas. He returned to Seattle and joined the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, where he served until his retirement from clinical practice in 1990, continuing on as Emeritus Professor of Anesthesiology. After retiring from medicine, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese on June 12, 1993 at St. James Cathedral. He served at St. James, and served subsequently as pastor at St. Michael's Parish in Snohomish, and Holy Cross Parish in Granite Falls. He retired to the Palisades Retirement House in Federal Way, assisting several parishes throughout the South Sound and Bremerton. He returned to St. James Cathedral in 2011, continuing to serve the community with wisdom and grace. Following health problems, he moved to the Skyline Retirement Community in 2016, where he remained until his death on October 4th, 2021. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norah Muldoon, and son Tim (Cheryl). He is survived by daughter Sheila, son Kevin (Bev); grandchildren Cary, Caitlin (Nathaniel), Kaleigh, and River (llya); and great-grandchildren Lennon Margaret and Phoebe June. The family is most appreciative for the friendship and love he received at St. James, and the kind and compassionate care he received at the Skyline. Memorials may be made to: the Solanus Casey Center at St James Cathedral, the Chief Seattle Club, or Catholic Community Services. Dick was generous with his joy and his time to all he encountered. He was a source of support and comfort to those lucky enough to have known him. He was a gentle guide to those in his orbit. He was fiercely loved and he will be terribly missed. His was a life well and fully lived. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 6th at 11 AM at St James Cathedral 804 9th Ave, Seattle, 98104 The Mass will also be livestreamed.