Ward

George Ward lived music and his family vows to carry on his melodious legacy.

Ward was a local band, orchestra and symphony director. He composed musical arrangements. He taught his children and local youth how to play various instruments and love music.

He also played violin and viola in the York Symphony Orchestra from 1947 to 1997.

Ward, a former West York Area School District band director, died of natural causes July 4 at York Hospital. He was 90.

Ward's family will hold a memorial service for him at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at Liberty Bible Camp, 1106 Keller Road in Lower Windsor Township.

Ward and his wife, Evelyn Ward, 79, started the camp in 1980. The couple was married for 58 years and had seven children.

Besides his wife, Ward leaves a daughter, Mary Charles, 50, of Lancaster County; and six sons, John Ward, 56, of York City, Matthew Ward, 45, of Dover, and David Ward, 53, Daniel Ward, 52, Paul Ward, 48, and Joseph Ward, 46, all of Springettsbury Township.

Ward also leaves nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

"He's an example of what it means to be faithful and he was always working to provide for us," Joseph Ward said. "He would discipline us and do it rightly and always properly."

Life of music: Daniel Ward said music was his father's life 24 hours a day. He said his father taught violin, viola, clarinet and saxophone.

He also conducted the Little College Symphony from 1983 to 1996 at York College. He composed arrangements for York Symphony Orchestra's children's concerts and Pops Series concerts.

Ward directed and arranged music for 10 years with the York City Band and co-directed the York Christian Chorale.

Evelyn Ward said her husband lived a life that glorified

God and was eager to share his faith with others. They co-directed Good Life Ministries Inc. He was a Sunday school teacher and taught local classes for Chicago-based Moody Bible Institute.

Daniel Ward and Joseph Ward said their father taught them how to be steadfast in achieving their goals and how to use their talents to serve God.

"The gentleness and kindness he taught us as children, we passed on to our kids," Joseph Ward said.

--Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.