Calvin Lee Ward

Calvin Lee Ward, Sr., age 82, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at Highland House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a battle with cancer.

A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am , Saturday, July 7, 2007 at Hugo Community Church with Pastor Terry Isabell officiating.. A graveside service will be at 3:00 pm, Monday, July 9, 2007 at Angelus Memorial Park, Anchorage, Alaska. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Cal was born in Hugo, Oregon on November 2, 1924, the only child of Nelson O. Ward and Mazella F.(Robinson) Ward. His early years were spent in a logging camp in Klamath Falls where his father was employed. The family moved to Grants Pass in 1934 where they operated a dairy and farm on Lower River Road.

Cal had an early interest in flying and learned to fly by the time he was out of high school. He joined the United States Air Force in 1944 and went through military flight training. After the war, he started a flying business in Grants Pass, but soon set his sights on Alaska.

He moved to Yakatat, Alaska in 1947 where he operated a bush flying service and flight school. On a trip to Anchorage, he met Patricia Stasuik, a nurse employed at Providence Hospital. He and Pat were married in 1950. Cal then took a job with Cordova Airlines of Cordova, Alaska. In 1959 Cal, Pat, and their three sons moved to Anchorage. There Cal continued his flying career with the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Aviation Agency.

In 1973, Pat and Cal moved to their homestead near McCarthy, Alaska. There they raised a huge garden and lived off the land enjoying the hunting and fishing. Cal was employed at the Gulkana Flight Service in Gulkana, Alaska when he retired in 1985. In 1991, he and Pat moved to North Pole, Alaska to be closer to their children and grandchildren, but still spent summers at their McCarthy homestead.

Upon Pat’s death in 1998, Cal moved back to Grants Pass to take care of his aging mother. There he met Nellie Jean Isabell and they were married on April 15, 2000. Cal and Nellie Jean continued to live in Grants Pass.

Cal was an active member and Deacon at Hugo Community Church where his step-son, Terry Isabell serves as pastor.

Cal is survived by his wife Nellie Jean Ward of Grants Pass; 3 sons, Doran L. Ward of Auburn, Washington, Arthur W. Ward of Salcha, Alaska and Calvin L. Ward, Jr. of McCarthy, Alaska, along with their spouses and families. He is also survived by step family, William R. Isabell of Salem, Terry L. Isabell of Grants Pass, Victoria H. (Isabell) Gresham of Portland, along with their spouses and families.