Mr. Wayne Davis Ward

Wayne Davis Ward, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away at home on Friday October 2, 2015, at the age of 63. Born in Columbus Georgia, September 30, 1952, he grew up in and around Phenix City Alabama. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Design in 1974. During countless all-nighters in Biggin Hall, preparing for presentations for Professors Eva Pfeil and Walter Schaer, he built a foundation that led to a rewarding career in freelance industrial design, prototyping, management of a stereolithography service bureau, and, most recently, employment as an applications engineer for Saratech, providing technical support and training to engineering service customers in the Southeast. He had an insatiable curiosity about how things are and should be made. He often said “the pessimist sees the glass as half empty; the optimist sees the glass as half full; and the engineer sees the glass and says ‘that glass is twice as big as it needs to be.’” He was forever looking at life with that analytical vision. But mostly, he looked at life, and those of us with whom he shared it, with compassion, integrity, and decency. He was living testimony to the Bible verse “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” But you’d never hear it from him. You’d just see it, daily, in his approach to and respect for others. Mr. Ward is preceded in death by his father Ted Ward, his sister Sue Ward Ferguson, and his father-in-law Bill Cain. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Barbara (Babs) Cain, his mother Norma Davis Ward, his sister Lynn Ward (Mike Wilson), his brother Ted Ward (Kathryn), his brother-in-law Mitch Ferguson, his mother-in-law Winifred Battle Cain, his brother-in-law Bill Cain (Mary), sister-in-law Pat Cain (Jean Love), his “brother in spirit” Mike Cooper (Nancy), his daughter and son-in-law Kathryn and Matt Bossart, and son Andrew Cain Ward. Additionally, he is survived by his grandson Owen Ward Bossart, from whom he received and gave much joy, love, and laughter, and by whom he was called “O.G” (Old Geezer) He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, colleagues, and friends, all of whom are proud and blessed to have known him. After almost 40 years in Dallas TX, Mr. Ward was glad to return home to Alabama in recent years and to the loveliest Village of the Plains so that he could once again enjoy sweet tea, bbq, and Auburn sports, especially baseball. He embodied significant portions of the Auburn Creed, including “honesty and truthfulness” and “a spirit that is not afraid.” A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at the Founders Chapel of Auburn United Methodist Church, 137 S Gay St, Auburn Alabama at 2:00 pm on Monday October 12, 2015. The family is grateful to Jeffcoat Funeral Home of Tallassee for their coordination with the Genesis Donor Program of Medical Education & Research Institute. Additionally, we would like to thank Hospice Advantage of EAMC for their guidance and support, all staff members of the office of Dr. Edith Graves for their care and compassion, and all EAMC employees for their exceptional service and professionalism from the initial diagnosis of glioblastoma just over a year ago. Wayne’s employer Saratech is not only a world class company; they are world class people. The family is especially grateful to Dr. Saeed Paydarfar, CEO, and Mike Dickinson, Technical Director, for their unwavering support, encouragement, and friendship. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: AUF (Auburn University Foundation) for Industrial Design Gifts and mailed to: The School of Industrial and Graphic Design, 207 Wallace Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849. Please include “In Memory of Wayne Ward” on the subject/memo line.