Holly Merlin Ward, 86, of Middlebury, Vermont, passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, surrounded by his family. Born in Montpelier on June 17, 1930, Holly was the son of Merlin B. and Aline (Hollopeter) Ward of Moretown, Vermont.
A longtime community member of the Mad River Valley, Holly is the survived by his wife, Peggy of Middlebury, VT; sister, Lois W. Tierney of Hampton, NH; three daughters, Gail Ward-Gould of Scottsdale, AZ, Willow Blish of Berkeley, CA, and Amanda (Scott) Alexander of Sheridan, WY; and four grandchildren, Sarah Gilbert of Boston, MA, Caroline Gilbert of Waitsfield, VT, and Brooke and Caden Alexander of Sheridan, WY. Holly was predeceased by his parents; brother, Richard Ward; and daughter, Kadi Ward.
Holly graduated from Montpelier High School and served in the U.S. Army. After two years at Vermont College, he continued his education at Boston University, graduating in 1952 with a degree in industrial management. When he returned to Moretown, he joined his father, Merlin, and his cousin, Owen, in the family lumber business honoring his love of land and trees.
The remainder of his professional life was spent managing the Ward Lumber Co. as well as developing the Ward Clapboard Mill. He expanded the mill from a family hobby into a major producer of the original vertical grain clapboard. He also pursued producing sounding boards for musical instruments. Holly was the last working woodsman to carry the torch for the Ward family.
Holly’s fascination with the company’s big workhorses sparked his lifelong equestrian interest. He was one of the founders of the Sugarbush Polo Club and the Green Mountain Hounds and remained an active leader in the Vermont horse community throughout his life. He will be remembered by many for his passion for the polo game, keen eye for a good pony and his remarkably patient way of teaching.
He spent the later part his life with his wife, Peggy, managing their three horse farms between Vermont and Florida. Holly did everything ranging from driving the truck and trailer to barn chores to mowing the fields to coaching to buying and selling horses. Holly was always the first to show up and to lend a hand wherever it was needed.
Holly was and is beloved by many people near and far, whether that be lumbermen in Maine, polo players in Palm Beach or friends of his children and grandchildren across the country. Nothing was more important to Holly than family and he always had a way of ensuring that those close to him knew how much he cared.
A true Vermont gentleman, Holly will be remembered always for his kindness, patience and abundance of knowledge of so many things. He was always good for a story, a lesson or a bit of advice. His presence will be dearly missed.
A celebration of Holly’s life will be held at Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. Later inurnment will take place at the Ward family lot in South Duxbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Vermont Chapter, 1 Marcus Blvd., Suite 203, Albany, NY 12205. To donate online, please visit www.mda.org. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com.
