Andrew Alonzo Ward (1879 - 1943)

Born 23 Dec 1879 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Marguerite Mabel (Proctor) Ward — married 9 Jun 1902 in Alexandria, Louisiana, USA

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1943 at age 63 in Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon, United States

Biography

Andrew was born in 1879, in St. Louis, MO. His father, Foster A. Ward was a pioneer in the "undertaking" business, and was a "Gate Keeper" at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis. After his early schooling in St. Louis, Andrew attended Missouri Academy of Embalming and Louisiana State College. He followed his profession in Alexandria, Louisiana where he met and married his wife Marguerite Procter, and they later resided in Reno, Nevada and Oroville, California. Andrew established a furniture store and mortuary in Dunsmuir, California in 1918, then moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1932 where he purchased a local mortuary and established Ward's Klamath Funeral Home, which is in its 4th generation of family operation. They had two sons, Clarence Procter and Willard Wallace.

Andrew was affiliated with Klamath Falls Lodge No. 77, AF&AM; Klamath Lodge No. 107, IOOF (Odd Fellows); Klamath Aerie No. 2090, FOE (Eagles); and Klamath Lodge No. 1106, LOOM (Moose); member Oregon State Funeral Directors Associate and National Funeral Directors Association. He also served as a Klamath County Deputy Coroner.^[1]

Obituary

Andrew Alonzo Ward was the son of Foster A. and Caroline (Runzi) Ward. His father was born at Easport, Maine in 1851, and was in the undertaking and cemetery business for 53 years in St. Louis, Missouri. He manufactured rough black walnut coffins himself. Both parents passed away in St. Louis. Foster was a craftsman and Caroline loved music and taught the piano for many years. They were the parents of eight children.

Andrew attended school in St. Louis. Following his father's profession, Andrew attended the Missouri Academy of Embalming and Louisiana State College. He married Marguerite Mabel Procter in 1902 in Alexandria. Andrew worked in the funeral business while in Alexandria, and also worked in Reno, Nevada and Oroville, California. In 1914 he opened a furniture store and funeral parlor at Dunsmuir, California, remaining there six years before moving to Klamath Falls in 1932, purchasing Ward's Funeral Home which continues to be operated by the Ward family.

Andrew and Marguerite had two sons, Clarence Procter Ward born in Reno, Nevada in 1903, and Willard Wallace Ward born in Dunsmuir, California in 1913.

Andrew Ward was a proud Mason, a member of Hillah Shrine and B.P.O. Elks lodges, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Fraternal Order of Eagles. A man of unlimited energy, honesty and integrity, he was honored by the Klamath Indian Tribe as a friend and benefactor by assisting with his burial service.

Sources

1. ↑ Ward Family records

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28604408/andrew-alonzo-ward : accessed 16 April 2022), memorial page for Andrew Alonzo Ward (23 Dec 1879–27 Mar 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 28604408, citing Linkville Pioneer Cemetery, Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon, USA ; Maintained by Orygun47 (contributor 47900120) .
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCXN-GQX