Glenda Fay Ward

GLENDA F. (FREEZE) WARD Glenda Ward, of Washington, Okla., a devoted mother, grandmother, retired nurse and faithful child of God, died Thursday, March 26, 2020, following a brief illness. She was 75. Born Glenda Fay Freeze on June 12, 1944, in Carnegie, Okla., Glenda and her twin sister Lynda Mae (Freeze) Moore were the last of eight children born to Arlie E. and Pearl G. (Sipes) Freeze. Glenda spent her formative years in rural Kiowa Co., Okla., where her father farmed, attending Mountain View Public School. In 1960, Glenda, along with her parents and twin sister, moved to farm on Walnut Creek west of Purcell, Okla. Glenda attended Purcell High School for her junior and senior years before graduating with the Dragon Class of 1962. The Freeze family's move to Purcell proved to be fortuitous: Glenda quickly made friends with many of the students in her school, including a trio of sisters who would eventually introduce her to their uncle, who was home on leave from the U.S. Army. Through this introduction, Glenda began a courtship with Robert H. Ward Jr., and the two were married on August 24, 1962. Glenda and Robert, who died in 2009, were married 47 years, and made homes in Oklahoma City, Moore, Okla., and Dayton, Ohio, ultimately settling on a small acreage in rural McClain Co., Okla., near the town of Washington. In the home they built together, the couple raised four children: Robert (Trace) III, Erin, Kristin and Josh. Glenda remained in this love-filled home the rest of her life, a home that served as the default location for any and all family activities. After early jobs working for Kerr-McGee and the State Chamber of Commerce, Glenda later spent 12 years as a school bus driver for Washington Public Schools. Proving that determination has no expiration date, Glenda returned to academia later in life, earning a nursing degree from Oklahoma City Community College shortly before her 50th birthday. Glenda went on to become a highly respected nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Norman Regional Hospital, where she worked for 17 years before retiring. Glenda's great compassion for people, her sharp mind, love of children and faith in God were on full display in the hospital where she excelled in what is often considered the most difficult job in nursing. In retirement, Glenda spent several years as a volunteer in the same NICU unit from which she retired, donating her time to help feed and comfort premature babies. Glenda loved international travel, reading and studying her Bible. She was a highly skilled Moon player who also enjoyed word puzzles, Hallmark movies, dining out, music and maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. Whether it was besting her family at the domino table or in a game of H-O-R-S-E in the driveway, Glenda taught her children and grandchildren what it meant to compete with integrity and grace in both victory and defeat. Her grit and determination helped paved the way for her to be a two-time breast cancer survivor, victories she credited to God. To know Glenda was to know her unwavering optimism, unrelenting smile and never-ending faith in God. Glenda remained an active member of Central Church of Christ in Moore for nearly half a century, where she taught Sunday School and volunteered for a variety of different roles that allowed her to serve her church family. Her trust in God and the knowledge that she would inherit the Kingdom of Heaven buoyed Glenda through life's most difficult moments and served as a source of comfort and inspiration for her family whom she led, and united, with love. Glenda was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hendon Ward Jr.; her parents, Arlie and Pearl Freeze, as well as her siblings Maxine Fuchs, Gene Freeze, Arlene Mitchell, Cleta Wooldridge and an infant brother. Glenda is survived by four children: Robert H. (Trace) Ward III and wife, Tanya, of Shawnee, Okla.; Erin Skero of Moore; Kristin Voskuhl and husband, Eric, of Edmond, Okla.; Josh Ward and wife, Sherri, of Norman, Okla. She is also survived by two sisters, Delta Wear of Washington, Okla., and her twin sister Lynda Moore of Goldsby, Okla., along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Glenda's most relished role in life was that of Mammy to her eight grandchildren whom she adored and with whom she spent most of her free time. The adoration was mutual, as evidenced by the love and devotion shown to her by her grandchildren Alyssa, Gabriel, Gideon, Zach, Justin, Julia, Katy Sue and Ryan. Glenda was laid to rest in Purcell's Hillside Cemetery, in a private service officiated by her nephew, Darrin Wear. Her family will welcome all friends and family to a celebration of her life, which will take place in her home church at a later date.

Glenda Fay Ward

June 12, 1944 - March 26, 2020