Richard (Dickie) Ward, 81, of Plymouth, formerly of Newton and Walpole, passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 25, 2024. Born on June 27, 1943, in East Boston, he was the son of the late Richard N. Ward and Catherine (Boyle). He was also predeceased by his sister, Janice Glover, and brothers, Jack and David. Richard is survived by his sister, Susan McAlinden of Pembroke, and his two sons, Christopher and his wife Karen of Marshfield, and Greg of Norton. He was proud of his role as a grandfather to two granddaughters, Carly Ward-Popek (Jeff) and Mackenzie Ward.

A 1961 graduate of Silver Lake High School, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 24, 1961. He served on the USS Wasp in the OA Division, taking particular pride in the ship's Massachusetts connections, including its Quincy construction and compasses crafted by E. S. Ritchie of Pembroke. One of Richard's fondest memories was the ship's European Cruise, where they delivered gifts from Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Plymouth, England, in gratitude for the Mayflower II. His service also included deployments to various locations such as Portsmouth, Greenock, Kiel, Oslo, Reykjavik, and Argentia, Newfoundland, as well as answering President Kennedy's call during the Cuban quarantine in October 1962. Richard was honorably discharged on November 22, 1963, and continued to serve as a reservist until November 1966.

Following his military service, Richard worked as an ironworker and assembly line worker before finding his passion as a carpenter. He spent many years with Starline Structures in Walpole before establishing his own business, taking great pride in his craftsmanship. In his later years, he transitioned to a career as a substance abuse counselor, where he made a positive impact on the lives of disabled veterans.

Richard had a love for the outdoors, enjoying activities such as hiking, canoeing, beach walks, and fishing on his father's boat. He found joy in the simple beauty of nature, relishing sunrises over the ocean and sunsets over the mountains.

The Ward family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Plymouth, Brockton, and Jamaica Plain, as well as the teams at BID Plymouth, St. Joseph's Rehabilitation in Brockton, and Brockton Hospital for their compassionate care.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, December 6th, from 1 PM to 4 PM at MacDonald Funeral Home, located at 1755 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA. A private internment will take place on Monday, December 9th, at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard's memory to Martha's Vineyard Ocean Academy at P.O. Box 1233, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or online at https://mvoceanacademy.org/ or to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at https://www.ihelpveterans.org/

For online guest cook, driving directions and other helpful information please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com