Dear Family and Friends,
I have had a long and wonderful life. It was a struggle to leave my beloved wife, Ginny of 67 years, but my heart has given its all.
I have been surrounded by my loving family and I know my daughter Linda and her husband Rod, and my daughter Karan and her friend Jim will now care for that which I love and cherish. My loving grandchildren, Chad Abbott and his wife Suzanne, Corie Dorrian and her husband Len, Deanna Niemeyer, Matt Niemeyer and his wife Tammy, and my great grandchildren are all together to support one another.
I have been honored to serve my country with 8th Air Force in World War ll and on returning to Maine, completed college at Gorham Normal School where I met and married Virginia Clark. Our college friends still remain close and dear.
Upon graduating I took my newly minted teaching degree to the Department of Education in Augusta, and by chance met Nelson Bailey, the Headmaster at Lincoln Academy. I was pleased to become a member of the faculty for 27 years where I taught industrial arts and served as assistant principal until my retirement.
Damariscotta has been home for 60 years. The community welcomed our family and we became members of the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle where I served as a Deacon. At this time, I also joined the local Lions Club where I served in several capacities and many long term friendships were forged.
In the summer of 1952, we offered to help Ginny’s sister, Dot, run her “hot dog stand.” Dot became pregnant, leaving us with the hot dog stand. In 1955, Pine Grove Drive-In was born. With the help of Ginny’s mother, “Gram”, we ran it for 25 years. These years were some of the best in our lives.
After my second retirement I was pleased to be asked to be a founding director of Damariscotta Bank and Trust, where I remained on the board until 2011. During these same years, Neal Ward Realty, Inc. was formed and our company took great satisfaction in adding the neighborhoods of Keene Woods and Head Gate to the town.
My life has been filled with endless celebrations; births, graduations, weddings, reunions, funerals and chicken barbeques. As a family and community, the love and support has been constant. You have all shared in the two lives of Ginny and me, and I thank you. I thank my daughters for the greatest gift of their support and the loving hands of Elder Power for allowing me to remain at home to the end. My life began in love, and ends in love.
Thank you, Neal Ward
P.S. My service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 4th at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Elder Power, 277 Main Street, #1, Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for my family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.
