It was a picture-perfect August evening in Spring Point when my beloved husband of 40 years passed from this life.

Don and I moved to Orcas Island in 1988 and started our business and built our Spring Point home together. Don was an avid sailor, kayaker, hiker. He loved his life on Orcas Island.

Don spent his childhood in Manhattan and Long Island. Don chose at a young age to get out of the city and relocated to rural Vermont. He worked as a hired man on several dairy farms while attending high school.

Then he was off to the Navy for 4 years. Wanting to follow in his test pilot father's footsteps, he had intended to become a pilot. Not having perfect eyesight, however, prevented Don from achieving his goal.

After spending two years in and out of naval hospitals, for a very serious injury received while serving that would have devastated most people, Don went on to establish a successful business career with Perkin Elmer, a high-tech instrumentation company, and was transferred to the west coast from the east coast. He was later transferred to Denver to become the branch manager in their new office.

He started his family in 1963 with the birth of his daughter Meg, followed within a year with the birth of his son Pete. Don raised his two children in Colorado after his divorce. He was the proud grandfather of Justin Meyer, Cooper Ward and Cassidy Ward.

His business career included being a stock broker for Dean Witter and establishing two commercial financing firms. He first retired in 1980. Then in 1984 Don met Bonnie Hill Ware and, as they say, the rest is history.

Don was a man of many talents with a great sense of humor. A wonderful storyteller, friend and lover of life, he will be sadly missed and forever loved.

To share memories of Don please sign his online guest register. Bookmark this direct link www.evanschapel.com/obituary/don-ward to check for updates.

Photo Credit: Background Photo: Orcas Sunset by Linda Harris used with permission by Ward Family.