James Walker Ward

James (Jim) Walker Ward of Bartlesville, OK, passed away at his home on Friday, July 11, 2025, after reaching the age of 93. Jim was born August 10, 1931, in Richfield, Utah, the 9th of 10 children of Father Alfred Jackson Ward and Janet Velein (Ogden) Ward. Jim had an adventurous childhood in Utah. He joined the Air Force at the age of 17. After serving three and 1/2 years in Japan, Jim landed in Bartlesville, OK, where he met his future bride, Cecilia “Joanne” Minor. Jim and Joanne married on October 15, 1960. They had 4 daughters, Sheryl, Shelly, Sondra, and Sharla, and went on to have 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Jim was a Union Pipe Fitter and worked for Natkin & Company for 45 years. He attended OSU Technical School and was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, Local 397. Jim was a family man, the best husband, father and grandfather you can imagine. He loved traveling with his family to New Mexico, Colorado and Disneyland. He enjoyed visiting his family in Utah, going camping, teaching his kids to ski on Grand Lake, and spending time with his girls in his workshop. He and Joanne traveled all over, with favorite trips to Utah, Caribbean and Alaskan Cruises, New England to see the foliage, and lots of trips to Branson to watch the world-famous Texas Tenors. They enjoyed traveling to Germany, France, Holland, Italy and Portugal. As a grandfather, he was the best. He helped Lindsey make a scale model of the Louvre and built a tree house with JD. He enjoyed an especially close relationship with his great-granddaughter, Paisley. He enjoyed gardening and grew the best tomatoes on the planet. He was such a fun, silly grandpa and we will miss his funny faces and his “clobberings.” In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, 855-401-4897. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and infant son, Jackie Allen. Jim is survived by his wife, Joanne; children, Sheryl Dirigo of Bartlesville, OK, Shelly and her husband Ron Ryan of Bartlesville, OK, Sondra Ward of Bartlesville, OK, and Sharla and her husband Dr. David Zuech, of Enid, OK; grandchildren, Angela Dirigo of Bartlesville, OK, Jamie and her husband Scott Thompson of Owasso, OK, Lindsey and her husband Andrew of Owasso, OK, Will Hollander and his wife Sherri of Ramona, CA, Ben Hollander and his wife Tasha of Bartlesville, OK, Blake Hollander and his wife Heather, of Traveler’s Rest, SC, Abbey Zuech of Dallas, TX, Katie and her husband Conner Fitch of Oklahoma City, OK, and J.D. Zuech and his fiancée Nicole Cagliostro of Allen, TX. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 4201 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006, 918-333-7665. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

James Walker Ward

August 10, 1931 - July 11, 2025