Gladys Ward

G ladys Pearl (Moyer) Ward, age 85 and a resident of Topeka for 60 years, died peacefully on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

Gladys Pearl Moyer was born December 14, 1928, in Corning, KS, to Clyde Arthur and Matilda "Tillie" Rose (Thompson) Moyer and was the oldest of three born to this union.  She and her family traveled to Oregon in 1936 and thrived there for seven years, before returning to Kansas to live on the family farm, in 1943.

Gladys graduated from Centralia High in 1947. Prior to graduating, she married Maurice "Bud" Dale Ward on December 22, 1946, in Troy, KS.   The couple was blessed with five daughters, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.  Gladys and Bud enjoyed 57 years of marriage, until Bud's death on April 19, 2004.

Her earlier career was as a seamstress and stay at home mom, raising their daughters, and serving as a foster mother for eight infants and one seven year old boy. Once all of her girls and many of her grandchildren were raised, Gladys pursued sales at the Nut Hut and Coffee Lovers stores.  She used most, if not all, of her income to purchase gifts for all of her family and friends who gathered at her home for the holidays.  Bringing joy to others was her passion and all that knew her could not help but be inspired to live up to her example.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Bud, her parents, a brother Martin John Moyer, and a great grandson Dayton Alexander Griffin.

Left to cherish her memory is a sister Marilyn Petry, Centralia, two sisters-in-law Twila Mae Little, Donald, Oregon and Marcina Faye Baker, Topeka, her five daughters Sandra K. Ward, Topeka, Marsha D. Ward, Topeka, Mary Lou (Tim) Lyons, Baldwin City, Pamela A. (Ted) Criqui, Topeka, and Beth L. (Jarred) White, Topeka; 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at the Centralia Community Church (West Building) in Centralia. Burial will be in the Centralia Cemetery. There will be a family visitation Wednesday morning one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. There will be a viewing Tuesday from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are left to Midland Hospice House of Topeka.  Memorials may be sent in care of Davidson Funeral Home, 1035 North Kansas Ave. Topeka, KS 66608 or Hayes-Popkess Funeral Home, 814 Castle, Seneca, KS 66538.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.popkessmortuaries.com