Ward Allen Stanberry was born on August 12, 1924 in Needles, California to Orville O. and Gladys Viets Stanberry.  He graduated from Chalker High School in Southington, Ohio in 1942. In December 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He graduated and was commissioned from Columbia University Midshipman’s School. He served as a lieutenant in the Pacific having shipboard assignments as well as staff on several islands.  In 1946, he was released to inactive service after honorably and proudly serving his country during World War II.  He then attended Western Michigan University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in June, 1948. One month later, he moved to Katy, Texas, where his parents were living and went to work in the insurance industry as an auditor.

On August 14, 1949, he married Marilyn Stockdick, the daughter of Elmer and Pleasant Garrett Stockdick, of Katy, Texas. This event was the renewal and culmination of a romance that had its beginning when Marilyn was still in high school and Ward was in the Navy.

He was active in the insurance business until January, 1993, when he merged his insurance agency into Katy Insurance Agency.  For several years he was also a licensed real estate agent.

Ward involved himself in civic and city affairs by serving as Election Judge and as Draft Registrar for several years. In 1961, he was elected to the Katy City Council and served three terms – the last as Mayor Pro Tem. He was twice elected Mayor of the City of Katy and served from 1988 to 1991. He was Chairman of the Home Rule Charter Commission from 1979 to 1980 and chaired several subsequent Charter Review Commissions. He was Chairman of the Flood Control Committee for several years, a member of the Zoning Commission in 1983, and Chairman of the Sign Ordinance Revision Committee in 1987.

Ward was a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Katy Savings and Loan Association as well as a director of Houston Savings Association. He served as chairman of the board of trustees of Katy Medical Center for fourteen years.

In 1957, Ward became a member of the Katy Rotary Club and served as president in 1963. He was a life member and Past Post Commander of Katy V.F.W. Post 9182.

Ward was a member and served on the Board of Trinity Apostolic Faith Church, in Katy. He was co-founder and general manager of Green Meadows Golf Course until July, 2008, when it was sold.

Ward had many interests, foremost being his family and his church. The family took long trips together preferring to drive and see the country up close. An avid reader, he preferred history and history based fiction. Fishing and water skiing were supplanted by golf and snow skiing after Green Meadows was built in 1965. He recorded five holes-in-one and several scores lower than his age. After his retirement and into his 90’s, Ward enjoyed growing beautiful flowers and mowing his oversized yard. He had his family holding their breath as he rode his bicycle several miles every week without the benefit of helmet or reflective vest.

He enjoyed a full and happy life, often observing that, “Any complaints I might make would be out of order.”

Ward Allen Stanberry passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020 at his home in Katy, Texas at the age of 95 years.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Stanberry, on February 10, 2008.

A graveside service with full military honors and with social distancing in mind will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at Katy Magnolia Cemetery, with Rev. Ron Martin and Rev. Phillip Clements officiating.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to the Katy V.F.W. Post 9182, P.O. Box 37, Katy, Texas 77492 or to Trinity Apostolic Faith Church, 5900 Tenth Street, Katy, Texas 77493, www.katytfc.org.

Funeral services under the direction of:

Schmidt Funeral Home
1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424