Carol Ward

Carol L. (Obergfell) Ward, 89, a lifelong Ft. Wayne resident, died Thursday, November 9, 2023. She was born Feb. 15, 1934, the youngest of the eight children of Leo and Charlotte (Freistroffer) Obergfell. Carol grew up on Hanna Street, across from Weisser Park, where she became a very good tennis player, a game she enjoyed throughout her life. Carol was a graduate of Central Catholic High School. In November 1956, she married Allen C. Ward. They had seven children, and Carol devoted herself to keeping a busy household on course and supporting “Big Al” and the family. Mom was a faithful Catholic and an active member at St. John the Baptist for 50 years. She volunteered for many years in the gift shop at St. Joseph Hospital. Carol was a big fan of Notre Dame football, and she loved going to see the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic and shows at the Embassy. Before suffering the dementia that affected her last years, our mom liked to keep busy. If she was just watching TV – Mom loved old movies – Carol would usually be knitting something at the same time. Visitors to the house often left with a hand-crafted scarf from her inventory. Survivors include her children, Timothy Ward, Kim (Lee) Kelso and Renee Ward, of Ft. Wayne; Clifford (Jan) Ward of Grayslake, Il., David (Karen) Ward of Dana Point, Ca.; Christopher (Michele Mirto) Ward of Tucson, Az., and Lisa (Kevin) Murphy of San Diego; sister-in-law, Sarah (Terry) Ward of Ft. Wayne. Eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2010. Carol was also preceded by her brothers, Richard (Althea), Paul (Mary Jane), David (Luanne) and Robert Obergfell, and her sisters, Dorothy (Don) Hall, Marjorie (Robert) Disser and Joan (Howard) Couch. Mass of Christian Resurrection is  11:00am Thursday, November 16, 2023 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 518 E. DeWald St., Ft. Wayne. Visitation from 9:45-11:00 Thursday in the church. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. The family’s preferred memorials are Masses or St. John the Baptist Catholic School, 4525 Arlington Ave. Ft. Wayne, IN 46807. To share a remembrance of Carol or to offer condolences to her family, please visit DivineMercyFuneralHome.com.