Donald E. Ward LS2863 RCE29810

[Cody Hustead]

Another old timer has crossed the great divide.

My Grandfather, Donald Ward has influenced many over his 60+ year surveying career.

He employed most of his family members at some point in their lives.

He convinced me to leave the Forest Service and become a surveyor about 15 years ago, and for that I credit him with having influenced my life more than anyone else (for the best, I might add!).

He got his surveying license in the mid 1950's and spent his entire career surveying around Bakersfield and the Tehachapi mountains (Kern County). As you could imagine he's got thousands of corners set in the area.

You've earned your rest, Grandpa. Till we meet again.

Rest in peace
Donald Eugene Ward
12/23/1925 - 12/17/2014

Sincerely,
Cody Hustead LS8777

[Dave Karoly, PLS]

Don Ward was one of the good guys. My earliest memory of him was when I was 4 or 5 years old. My Dad worked for Rickett, Reeves and Ward (then Rickett, Ward and Delmarter) from the mid-1960s to 1980.

I worked for him on his property in Hart Flat fixing fences and so forth in about the summer of 1979, could've been 1978.

He was a character.

[Cody Hustead]

Many times, when the surveying was slow, I ended up at his house mending fences, cutting brush etc. There was always work to be done.

Your family is well remembered by mine.

My Aunt recently told me you would wander through the office calling your Dad, "Daaaaaaad". We had a good chuckle at that. Apparently your voice was quite memorable at that particular point in your adolescence. Lol.

By the way, Don quite enjoyed your visit a few years back when you stopped by. Thanks for that.

[Dave Karoly, PLS]

Let me know when the Memorial is, I'll try to attend.

Another memory...mid 1960s. The company had a back country cabin in the Kern River Canyon AKA "7th Heaven". The Wards and the Karolys spent a vacation in the cabin. I don't remember which of the children from each family attended but I know I was there. The 4WD road getting back there is very rough and difficult. The Jeep and a 1960s 4WD Ford pickup got stuck several times. The pickup had a load of lumber in it to build an outdoor flush toilet. My Dad was an expert at pulling trout out of the little stream that flowed by the cabin.

On another trip, I think to Mammoth Lakes sometime in the late 1960s the Wards had a Ford Thunderbird which your Grandmother told me was their road trip car. The Wards were really impressive people to a little boy and the idea they had a car just for highway cruising was especially impressive. I rode with them; we stopped somewhere in the desert off of US395 and captured a horny toad for a pet which I think was returned to the desert on the way home.

[Cody Hustead]

I'll post here when the memorial is set. I suspect sometime in January.

Dave, you and your family would be well received if convenient for you.

Thanks for the memories.

Cody Hustead

[pls5528]

I want to give you my condolences on the passing of your grandfather. My father (born in 1918) and his two brothers (my uncles) were all surveyors and engineers too. With all the influence from them and all their friends growing up, it was inevitable that I end up in this line of work too. They were all old school guys, of which I respected very much! I can totally relate.

Mike

[Cody Hustead]

http://www.tehachapinews.com/obituaries/x555076552/Donald-Eugene-Ward-1925-2014

Link above is to the obituary in yesterdays Tehachapi Newspaper.

... a well worded remembrance of a self taught and accomplished man.

I'm pretty sure he was the lowest LS number still practicing.

Cody

[ls7214]

My thoughts and condolences are with Don Ward's family. Don was well respected in Bakersfield and Kern County and he will be remembered for a very long time.

Rolland Van De Valk