Obituary of Andrew Ganley Ward

Andrew Ganley Ward, 95, passed away peacefully at home from natural causes on May 8, 2021 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was born to William and Christine (Ganley) Ward on May 21, 1925 in Stoughton, MA. He was the youngest of three children. Andrew was raised in Brockton (MA) and was educated in the Brockton School System. At the age of 17, Andrew left high school and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served during WWII. After the end of the war, he returned to Brockton Hill School to earn his high school diploma and went to graduate from Boston University in 1953 with a BA in Mathematics and Physics. Andrew married Doris Ella McCarthy of Brockton, MA in 1948. They had one son Andrew W. Ward born in 1956. He went to work with the Raytheon Company as an Engineer and remained with the company until his retirement in 1980. At the age of 4, Andrew’s father passed away. His mother remarried to Harold Walsh and the family grew with the addition of 2 sons and 2 daughters. As a youth growing up in Brockton, Andrew enjoyed photography and model airplane construction. His experience with the field of photography, allowed him to excel in his appointment in the U.S. Marine Corps as a photographer. In the 1950’s, Andrew and Doris purchased a parcel of land in Brockton and together they hand built their home. In the years that followed, Doris became seriously ill and disabled with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The New England weather further exacerbated her condition and as a family, they relocated to Arizona, following Andrew’s early retirement, in an attempt to alleviate Doris’ pain and improve her quality of life. In the 1990’s, Andrew produced a short film memorializing the achievements of U.S. Marine Corps Photographic Squadron VMD-354, with which he served during WWII. This was followed by the creation of an accompanying website that was maintained by Andrew for a decade, beginning in the early 2000’s. Andrew was the last living member of U.S. Marine Corps Photographic Squadron VMD-354. Andrews is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 50 years, Doris; his brothers William H. Ward, John M Walsh and Edward J. Walsh; his sisters Mary Louise (Mack) Ward, Christine (Burrell) Walsh and Ann Marie (Sheehan) Walsh. He is survived by his son Andrew William Ward of Lake Havasu City, AZ and many nieces and nephews Arrangements were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com To send a FREE card to the family go to www.sendoutcards/lietzfraze