Clifford Grant Ward

Clifford Grant Ward, age 97, of Hancock, MD, passed away at the Fulton County Medical Center in McConnellsburg, PA, on Monday, January 27, 2025. 

Born February 15, 1927, in Buck Valley, Fulton County, PA, he was the son of the late Amos A. and Ora E. (Scriever) Ward, and the husband of the late Norma L. (Hendershot) Ward. 

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hancock, MD.

He joined the United States Army in April 1945 and served as a guard during the Nuremberg Trials at the Palace of Justice in the 1st Division 26th Infantry until his discharge in November 1946. He worked at Angle Feed and Lumber Company, Fairchild Aircraft, Pennsylvania Glass Sand Company, and retired from General Motors in Martinsburg, WV, after a 26-year career. For his retirement job, he was the senior advisor of the box production department and brass quality advisor for Hendershot’s Sporting Goods where he will be greatly missed.

In his leisure time, he played the guitar in a band called the Bluegrass Rascals and played at many square dances. He loved spending time with his family and traveling throughout the US with his wife Norma. Some of his hobbies included making homemade ice cream, listening to bluegrass music, spending time outdoors doing yard work and planting flowers with his wife, and visiting with friends. He was a fun grandfather and loved watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in various activities and sporting events. And he was always willing to play a game of SORRY! His quick wit and humor were conveyed through the comical little songs he would sing.

He is survived by two daughters, Wanda L. Kane (Gene) of Hagerstown, MD, and Brenda M. Strait (Al) of Colorado Springs, CO; six grandchildren, Shea White, Brittney Jones, Kyle Strait, Brooke Eldridge, Shauntelle Myers, and Kami Huckstep; four step-grandchildren, Eugene Kane, Jr., Lloyd Kane, Mary Hammond, and Charlene Kane; fourteen great-grandchildren, Hunter Eldridge, Macey Jones, Lily Jones, Karter Jones, Mylee Strait, Betsey Strait, Breck Huckstep, Gunner Eldridge, Maverick Eldridge, Jett Huckstep, Tyler Myers, Duke Huckstep, McKenna Myers, and Van Huckstep; one brother, Billy L. Ward; and one sister, Betty F. Fischer.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Norma Louise (Hendershot) Ward; four brothers, Hayes E. Ward, Herbert W. Ward, Albert L. Ward, and Eugene M. Ward; five sisters, Janet H. Schetrompf, Lena M. (Peg) Yonker, Dorothy L. Shank, Naomi D. Bohrer, and J. June Ziler.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 200 Douglas Street, Hancock, MD, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 2, at 2:00 p.m., at the church. Bishop Eric Exline will officiate. Interment will follow at the Buck Valley Methodist Church Cemetery in Warfordsburg, PA. Military honors will be provided by the Tri-State Honor Guard.

Arrangements were entrusted to Grove-Rogowski Funeral Home, 141 West Main Street, Hancock, MD 21750. Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.grfuneralhome.net.