Rusty Ward

Rusty Ward, 66, passed away Thursday, August 31, 2017 in Arlington, Texas Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Arlington. In Lieu of Flowers: Memorial gifts may be made to the William Sears Ward Endowment, https://giving.uta.edu/ward-endowment or by mailing to: UT Arlington, William Sears Ward Endowment, Box 19198, 701 S. Nedderman, Arlington, Texas 76019-0198 Rusty was born on October 15, 1950 in Fort Worth to Edgar Lee and Mary Bess Sears Ward. He was a lifelong resident of Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1969. He lettered all 3 years and was named all-district and all-state in both sports. He was recently inducted into the inaugural class of the Arlington Independent School District Athletics Hall of Fame. He was drafted to play pro baseball by the San Francisco Giants and played five full seasons with the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Club. Rusty set many football and baseball records at AHS and he played in the first football game between Arlington High School and Sam Houston High School. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds he played A ball in Tampa, AA ball in Canada and AAA ball in Indianapolis. Rusty earned two degrees, a bachelor's in political science and a master's in taxation. He served as Vice President for Business and Controller at UT Arlington. He retired in 2010 after a distinguished 20 year career. Rusty established the Williams S. Ward Endowment to honor his younger brother Bill, who was a faculty member at UT Arlington. The Ward Endowment recognizes with an annual award a non-tenure track faculty member with exemplary ethics and loves working with students. Rusty was preceded in death by his father, Edgar Lee Ward Jr.; his mother, Mary Bess Sears Ward; brother, Bill Ward; and grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Sears Survivors: Rusty is survived by his wife, Dianne Gottlieb Ward and their daughter, Sarah Ward; brothers, Robert Ward and Gary Ward, sister-in-law, Shannon Ward and their families. Wade Family Funeral Home 817-274-9233