Louise Ward Obituary

Former Durango resident Louise Rose Fanto Ward died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Oklahoma City. She was 91.

Mrs. Ward was born to Joseph and Rose “Ma" Fanto on May 23, 1918, in Durango. Her mother was a well-known generous

supporter of local charities. Fanto Park, next to Park Elementary School, is named in Rose Fanto's honor.

Mrs. Ward attended St. Columba Elementary School and graduated from Durango High School in 1935. She was the first

Spanish Trails Fiesta (now Navajo Trails Fiesta) queen in 1935. Her family said she was proud of that all her life.

Mrs. Ward went on to graduate from Denver's St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, where she earned her

registered-nurse degree. After nursing school, she joined the Navy during World War II, caring for wounded sailors and

soldiers in Washington and Idaho.

After the war, she returned to Durango. On July 25, 1947, she married Hubert Leonard “Lolly" Ward at Sacred Heart

Catholic Church in Durango.

Mr. Ward worked as a surveyor with Mobil Oil, and the Wards spent the next 20-plus years moving once or twice a year.

They finally settled down in Cordell, Okla., where Mrs. Ward was the director of nurses for 20 years at Cordell

Christian Home, a skilled nursing facility. After her retirement, she was persuaded to return to work, which she did

briefly for a new nursing home in Cordell before retiring for good.

For the last seven years, Mrs. Ward had lived at the Spanish Cove Retirement Community in Yukon, Okla.

Mrs. Ward was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Hubert Leonard Ward.

She is survived by her son, Joe Ward, of Steamboat Springs; daughter, Roseann Ward Hauk, of Wichita Falls, Texas;

97-year-old brother Art Fanto of Rathbrum, Idaho; three grandchildren; and two nieces and a nephew.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, 2010, at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 522 E. 3rd St., in

Cordell. Burial will be held after at Lawnview Cemetery, also in Cordell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS

66675-8516 or online at www.wound

edwarriorproject.org.