Keith David Ward

Keith David Ward, 44, of Delmar, died Thursday, September 25, 2008 in Hartmansville, WV, as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born January 14, 1964 in Cape May, NJ, a son of Virginia (Johnson) Thomas of Salisbury and John Ward of Parsonsburg. Keith graduated from Parkside High School with the Class of 1982, where he played goalkeeper for the varsity soccer team and played drums in the marching band. After high school, he proudly served his country in the US Army. He worked as a foreman for Resort Homes in Ocean City, drove a truck for Eagle Express and utilized his boyhood love for climbing trees by owning and operating Keith’s Tree Removal for over 18 years. He enjoyed motorcycles and was a member of the “Patriot Guard Riders”, a veteran support group to help veterans and veteran’s families. He also enjoyed golf, woodworking projects and carpentry. He treasured his friendships at “The Ranch” in Delmar, where he loved playing poker with the guys on Thursdays and loved Wawa Coffee and the special friends he had at the North Salisbury Wawa. Keith was also a member of the Salisbury Moose Lodge and loved spending time with his friends at the lodge, and was a newly inducted member of the East Side Men’s Club Fraternal Order of Eagles. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Jeanie M. (Schumacher) Ward; the light of his life, his daughter, Kerry Ward; a grandfather, Jesse B. Johnson of Delmar; a sister-in-law, Millie Hall and her husband Jay of Laurel; close friends, Kenny Calloway and Arthur Smith; and a very special “little buddy”, Boone Tunney. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Ward; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Nancy M. and Vincent Schumacher; his maternal grandmother, Cathryn V. Johnson; and his paternal grandparents, George E. and Margie V. Ward. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, September 29, 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Short Funeral Home, 13 E. Grove Street, Delmar. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., also at the funeral home, where friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00. Pastor Blair Hall will officiate. Interment will be held at St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Delmar. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: Make-A-Wish Foundation, 3550 N. Central Avenue, Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85012, or in his memory, to benefit his daughter’s scholarship fund, Bank of Delmarva, 12 E. State Street, Delmar, MD 21875. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.

Keith David Ward

January 14, 1964 - September 25, 2008