North Monroe, NH – Philip Harold Ward, 88, of North Monroe, passed away on November 16, 2008, at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, St. Johnsbury, VT. He was born August 27, 1920, on Mountain View Farm in North Monroe. Philip attended elementary school in Monroe, McIndoe Academy, and the University of New Hampshire. Upon returning to his family's farm, he married Betty Jane Pierce, the love of his life. They were married 58 years. Together they planned, sacrificed and worked to increase the size of the pure bred Jersey herd, and maintained a beautiful, productive dairy. He strove to meet the challenges of raising six children, providing a safe, happy home. His wife and children were his reason to exist, and he worked to provide the best life possible for them. He was proud of their accomplishments and did everything within his power to protect them and to assure that they could have happy, successful lives. His brothers and sister were his best friends and were loved dearly, always living within a few miles of each other both in Monroe and Florida, through many happy winter retirement years. He loved living in this world and wanted to see it all, traveling to Europe several times, and extensively in the United States and Canada. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, bagging spectacular white tail bucks and catching Atlantic salmon and trout. Philip exemplified hard work, respect for nature, acute business acumen, and love of his family. He believed in living life until he died. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert F. Ward and Hazel Smith Ward; his older brother Linfield Ward and wife, Sarah; younger brother, Homer; brother-in-law, Rodney Stanton; and sister-in-law, Doris Ward. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter Linda Clark and son-in-law, James Clark of Monroe; daughter, Sharon Ward of Monroe; daughter, Pamela Van Den Berg and son-in-law, James Van Den Berg of Green Bay, WI; son, Gary Ward, and Tina Yourison of Monroe; son, Philip Michael Ward, and Teri Dexter of Littleton, NH; son, Bryan Ward of Monroe. His grandchildren are Abby Thomas and husband, Wilson Thomas of Danville, VT; Cadet Second Class Michael Clark of West Point, New York; Coast Guardsman MK2 Casey Locke of York, ME; and high school senior Kyle Ward of Plymouth and Monroe. His great-grandchildren are Wilder Thomas, who recently taught his great-grandfather to dance again; and newly arrived great-granddaughter, Aven Thomas. He is survived by his brother, Leslie Ward of Monroe; brother Norman Ward and sister-in-law Eve Ward of Monroe; sister Mary Stanton of Monroe; sister-in-law, Jean Wakefield of Lyndonville, VT; sister-in-law, Colleen Kerr and husband Tom of Waitsfield, VT; and sister-in-law, Janice Trush and husband Paul of Lyndonville. Also surviving are many cousins, nieces and nephews.

(Obtained from Ricker Funeral Home)