St. George, Utah - Robert Ogden Ward, 82, passed away June 29, 2012 at his home in St. George, Utah. He was born January 24, 1930 in Richfield, Utah the eighth of ten children to Alfred Jackson and Janet Ogden Ward. He married Louise Ainsworth on September 20, 1954 in the Manti LDS Temple.

Robert was raised and attended schools in Richfield and graduated from Richfield High School in 1948.

Robert started working at Safeway in Richfield when he was 14 years old. He also worked 9 years in Cedar City as produce manager and assistant manager before moving to St. George in 1964 to manage a Safeway store there. He retired in 1986. Robert working in Alaska for two summers panning gold and working for the forest service.

Some of the things Robert enjoyed were making his own bows, golfing with his sons, growing a garden, and traveling with his family and siblings especially to Fish Lake where he cooked dutch oven. He helped organize archery clubs in Cedar City and Richfield. Robert belonged to the St. George Kiwanis Club for 20 years.

Robert was an active member of the LDS church, serving as finance clerk to 7 bishops and one stake president, stake and ward MIA clerk, and in the elder’s quorum.

Robert is survived by his wife, Louise; children: Larry (Lisa) Ward Santa Clara, Utah, Helen Emmett, St. George, Utah, Bill (Katy) Ward Ogden, Utah, and Kasi Wendy Pelligra Shelton, Connecticut; grandchildren: Amy (Spencer) Heaton, Natalie Cripps, Jennifer (Cody) Pritchett, Jonathan Ward, Michelle Ward, Joshua (Amanda) Emmett, Zach Emmett, Jase (Rachel) Emmett, Morgan Ward, Graham Pelligra, Bryson (Theresa) Dooley, Jillian Dooley, Alissa Dooley, Jesse Dooley (Mission), Nathan Dooley, Katelyn Dooley, and Hailey Hafen; great-grandchildren: Kaden Cripps, Nia Cripps, Ethan Heaton, Kolar Pritchett, Cody Pritchett, Ravyn Emmett, Lilly Emmett, Shylee Emmett, Atticus Emmett, and Scout Emmett; brother, James (Joanne) Ward, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; sisters: Janet (Eldon) Tervort Orem, Utah and Jane Tait Henderson, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Richard and Melvin; and sisters: Dorothy Labrum, Elizabeth Conder, Mora Ward, and Margaret Washburn.

The family would like to give special thanks to Rocky Mountain Hospice.

Funeral services will be Friday, July 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. George East Stake Center located at 449 South 300 East. Visitations will be Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd and on Friday, prior to services, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 am at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Richfield City Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.