Margaret Long Ward

Mrs. Margaret Long Ward, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a former teacher and administrator in the Danville Public Schools for 44 years reluctantly departed from this world at 11:18 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 in Danville, IL. Since her retirement on June 30, 1986 she has continued working for the schools and their children in one capacity or another for a total of 72 years. Born September 15, 1920 to Marvin E. and Bertha Kerns Long, she lived all her life in Danville with the exception of a year and a half during World War II. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Sara Jo Ward Forthmann and her gracious husband, Christopher Forthmann. Two grandchildren survive her: a grandson, Ward Christopher, who was also her wonderful “buddy” and a grand-daughter, Madeline Margaret, who was a precious “best girlfriend”. Margaret was a truly “doting” grandmother who valued her time with them and who often silently wished it could last longer. Her family will miss her but will always remember her. Her sister-in-law, Catherine Long also survives her in Greencastle, Indiana along with several nieces, some of whom are: Mary Margaret (Earl) Roberson of Danville, Lisa Bishop and Melanie (Ron) Gibbs of Greencastle, IN; Helen Ward Johnson of Mattoon and Susan (Dennis) Crane of Danville. Several nephews in her husbands family survive one of which is William (Suetta) Ward of Charleston. His frequent visits were always appreciated. In addition, she is survived by sister-in-law Norma Ashby of Charleston, and several great nieces and nephews, and three cousins one of which is Mary (Harry) Shaw of Westville, and Steve Ward. She cherished all her relatives named and not named. In fact, Margaret loved people. She appreciated and valued all of her loving and loyal friends, all of her former students and their parents whom she considered as friends. Her relatives and friends provided many serendipities throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her kind and loving husband, Joe D. Ward, whom she married on June 8, 1942 in Kimmswick, MO and he had to leave her December 17, 1999 after 57 years together. Both parents preceded her in death as well as her brother, Marvin K. Long, and a sister, Lucille Madeline, who - though 13 years older - died in infancy. All of her aunts and uncles preceded her in death including a very special aunt, Mrs. Effie Kerns Gammel. Unfortunately, many of her dear friends preceded her in death. She always remembered them and missed them. Margaret attended Oaklawn School for 7 years under the guidance of its excellent and visionary teacher, Miss Willa Freeland, who was years ahead of her time. She had a profound effect on Margarets personal life and professional one. In eighth grade, she attended Cannon School as Oaklawn then had no eighth grade. After this, she attended Danville High School from which she was graduated with honors in 1938. Following this, she worked her way through two years of college at Eastern Illinois University before starting her teaching career at Douglas where she taught 21 years. She treasured her years there with so many loving and appreciative students. She taught all children of many families. Later she missed the close contact shed had earlier at Douglas with students as a teacher. On November 1, 1963 she began her career as principal of the former Franklin School and Garfield School for five years, after which she served Garfield School for another 13 years. Margaret inspired her staff, and brought many new and innovative programs to her school and district. She felt as if she was living in “Camelot”. In 1981 she became the first woman principal of a middle school, North Ridge. After 3 years, in 1984 she went to Head Office where she served two more years before retiring. Being an “educator” was not a job for Margaret, but rather a “way of life”. She was firmly engrossed in it, believed its great importance in a childs life, and believed in the importance of how she was spending her life. It was a long but fulfilling journey. Realizing she wasnt perfect, Margaret nevertheless hoped and prayed she made a difference in many of their lives. She was a staunch believer in the importance of public school education through which all had a chance to get an education. While working, Margaret completed her B.S. at Indiana State Teachers College, her Master of Education degree at the University of Illinois with honors, as well as a second Masters degree in supervision and counseling. During her life, she took summer courses at Illinois State, Butler University, Stanford University, and the University of Utah at Salt Lake. Mrs. Ward was a member for over 60 years of American Association of University Women. She was an early and long standing member of the Danville Executive Club, the former Business and Professional Women (B&PW), the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, a lifetime member honored for excellence in education in the National Education Association, and a member for scholarship in Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Delta Phi. She worked in the American Heart Association, Danville Unit for years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church which she attended with her husband and daughter, firmly believing a religious education should be an important part of a childs total development. She always believed in contributing to the church realizing that everything she had belonged to God. Without Him, she have been nothing, would have had nothing. After retirement, she became a member of the Illinois Governors Council for the Aging. Through this membership she started the Older Womens League group in Danville. For sixteen years she worked on OWL, and in 1987 she received a plaque for her accomplishments. She assumed a place on the Laura Lee Fellowship House Board in 1986 to 2005, and then was honored with an Emeritus Board position in 2005. She was honored for her educational help, her guidance and Mother Love by Mr. Summers at Laura Lee Fellowship House in 2003. She became a lifetime board member at Crosspoint Human Services in 1986. In 2009, Crosspoint honored her by presenting the 1st Annual Margaret Ward Scholarship. Margaret was in the initial group that formed Danville Public School Foundation Board on which she worked for over 20 years. She was appointed to the Danville Library Board by Mayor Wilbur Scharlau and served the library 12 years during which time the new library came into being. In 2002 - 2003 she worked enthusiastically on the steering committee for Citizens to Elect Dr. David Fields as Mayor. In 2003, she was on the committee to plan Garfield Schools 100th Anniversary Celebration. In 2005 she became a board member for C.R.I.S. for 6 years. In 1968, the Commercial News honored her as Woman of the Year and in 1992 she received the AAUW Woman of Achievement Award. Margaret realized that one has only one life to live.that life was a journey, not a destination. She enjoyed and appreciated all the travelers along the way. She liked all sorts of people and people of every race, religion, economic or social standing in her personal life as well as professional life. All she met were woven into the fabric of her life. Three quotations bring her to mind. “Sins of omission are as great as those of commission.” “The greatest sin of all is ingratitude to God and man.” “Thine is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Margaret was a firm believer in Gods goodness and mercy and in angels. She realized angels on earth came in every shape, color, race, and religion.making Life more beautiful and difficult times easier. She had had so many “angels” she often said, appreciating and valuing each one. To each and every one of her angels, she left word to say “Thank you so much.” Services for the celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be held Friday, April 24, 2015 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the boards on which she served or her church in Margarets memory. Please join Margarets family and friends in sharing memories and photos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Apr 24, 2015 Friday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61834 Service Apr 25, 2015 Saturday, 10:00 AM First Presbyterian Church 100 N. Franklin Danville, Illinois (IL) 61832 Final Resting Place Spring Hill Cemetery 301 East Voorhees Danville, IL 61832