Mary Bess Ward

ARLINGTON -- Mary Bess Ward, 85, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2014, in Arlington. Funeral: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 West Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, with Dr. Dean Posey and Rev. Dub Shepherd officiating. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington. Visitation: 12 to 1 p.m. prior to the service at the church and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Mary Bess was born on Aug. 19, 1928, in Hutchins to W.A. Sears and Beatrice Owen Sears. She graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University in May of 1949 and married Ed Ward on May 22 of that same year. Mary Bess received her master's in education from Texas Christian University in August 1974. She was a longtime AISD teacher and counselor at Arlington High School and Bowie High School. She served as the A.H.S. chairperson of the English Department prior to retiring in 1993. Mary Bess was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Ed Ward, in 1996 and son, Bill Ward, in 2010. Survivors: Sons, Rusty Ward and wife, Dianne, of Arlington, Robert Ward of Dallas and Gary Ward and wife, Shannon, of Bedford; grandchildren, Sarah Ward, Meagan Ward, Trevor Ward and Tyler Ward. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233