DL Capt. Richard E. Ward

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, DL Capt. Richard E. Ward

March 18, 1951 - November 9, 2025

 

Flying, the great outdoors, God and family: These were the four passions of Richard Ward…..

 

Richard Eugene Ward joined Delta Air Lines 08-24-1979 and retired with Delta in 2005 based ATL.  Captain Ward is survived by his wife Christine, and by his daughters and their families. 

PCN memorial site   

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/291710688/richard-eugene-ward

 Interment: Georgia National Cemetery

https://southcare-16518.meaningfulfunerals.net/obituary/richard-ward

Richard Ward obituary

Flying, the great outdoors, God and family: These were the four passions of Richard E. Ward, who passed away at age 74 on November 9, 2025. He was surrounded by the love of his life and their three daughters.

 

Son of Wayne and Violet (Redenbaugh) Ward, Richard was born on March 18, 1951 and grew up in Ralston, Nebraska as the youngest of four siblings. He attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, which is where he met, courted, and married his bride of 51 years, Christine Branecki. Upon graduation, Richard immediately entered pilot training and served in the U.S. Air Force, where he flew KC-135s and RC-135s. Richard and Christine built a life together in Omaha, NE; Rome, NY; Euless, TX; and Marietta, GA. And he extended his aviation career beyond the Air Force when he took flight with Delta Airlines in 1979. After spending over 25 years in skies around the world, Richard retired as a captain in 2005.

 

Richard’s love for the outdoors flared when he saw the Grand Canyon for the first time while on his honeymoon with Christine. In the years that followed, he'd return again and again, bringing friends and family members to backpack, camp out in "God's country," and traverse trails so narrow that the memory alone makes his hiking companions sweat. He loved all the National Parks and would plan day hikes, backpacking trips, and RV excursions with anyone willing to adventure with him.

 

Throughout his life, Richard devoted himself as a disciple of Christ, serving faithfully as His hands and feet. Whether he was stocking the shelves of a local food pantry, packing boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, volunteering at his church, helping with construction projects at a camp for underprivileged kids, or teaching schoolchildren basic woodworking skills, Richard continually strived to meet the needs of anyone he could help.

 

 And no one benefited more from Richard’s acts of service than his family. Each one has been inspired by his legacy of assistance, humility, and compassion. They love and miss him deeply.

 

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Michele, his brother Jack, and his grandson George. He is survived by his wife, Christine; his children, Kari Mattingly (Tyler), Andrea Azuz (Carl), Julie Fortenberry (Ben); and nine grandchildren: Ella, Emily, Evie, Ty, Adelaide, Andrew, Aaron, Charlotte, and Will. He is also survived by his brother Jim and sisters-in-law Helene and Amy.

 

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held on November 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his honor to Mission Aviation Fellowship or Camp Grace.

 

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