Yvonne "Vonnie" A. Ward (nee Attwood)

WARD, Yvonne A. “Vonnie” (nee Attwood), age 95, of Centerville, OH, formerly of Oakwood and Kettering, passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. She was born on April 4, 1928, to the late Stanley H. and Jessie (Booher) Attwood, in Dayton, OH. She graduated from Oakwood High School in 1946 and then pursued her passion for the arts at Miami University, earning a B.A. in Fine Arts. While attending Miami, she married her high school sweetheart, John R. “Jack” Ward Sr. After college, the young couple moved back to the Dayton area where they started their family. As her children grew older, she put her education to work as an art teacher in the Kettering and Oakwood school system. When Jack opened Ward Insurance Agency, Vonnie was instrumental in supporting his efforts, in addition to providing her family with a loving household. For many years, Vonnie stayed active with her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. In her later years, she enjoyed antiquing and growing her vast collection of blue and white china. She was an avid reader of English history and especially loved her trips to her father’s home country of England. In her free time, she could often be found outside working on her well-kept flower garden. Vonnie’s persevering and nurturing nature will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Jack Ward; daughter, Leslie Ward; sisters, Mary Penny, Jan Gross, and Joyce Baumaster; and brother, James “Jim” Attwood.

Yvonne is survived by her sons, John R. “Farmer” (Margie Heckman) Ward Jr. and Robert A. (Judith) Ward; grandchildren, Matthew (Jennifer) Ward, Amy (Byron) Hurst, Ashley Ward, Robert “Bobby” (Becky) Ward, and John Ward; great-grandchildren, Kylie, Luke, Chase, and Bellamy; sister-in-law, Carolee O’Brien; longtime neighbors, Penny and Dick Lange; and numerous extended family and friends.    

A service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 11:45AM at David’s Cemetery in the Mausoleum, 4600 Mad River Rd., Kettering, OH 45429. Family and friends may visit from 11:00AM until the time of service. Vonnie will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Jack, following the services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Castle at https://friendsatthecastle.com/donate/. A special thank you to the staff of Symphony of Centerville for their compassionate care to Vonnie.