Martha Ruth Reed Ward passed away in her home in Austin, Texas, on Friday, February 11, 2011. Martha was born on February 22, 1918, in Kansas City, Missouri.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Madeline Hamilton Reed; her father, Herbert Darden Reed; her husband, Samuel Frank Ward, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Martha Kate Ward Meissner, and her husband, James Raymond Meissner.

She is survived by her son, Samuel Lynn Ward, and daughter-in-law, Joan, of Austin, Texas; her granddaughter, Kara Ward, of Austin; and her grandson, Dr. Brant R. Ward, of Richmond, Virginia.

Martha grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas, and moved to Galveston in 1947. She was a very active member of Central United Methodist Church where she taught pre-school for many years, and of the Aglaen Study Club of Galveston. She also spent many volunteer hours at Moody House. In 1998 she moved to Austin, where her daughter-in-law’s large family adopted her as a beloved grandmother. She had many enjoyable activities with this “new” family. Martha made many friends with her warm friendship and gracious manner.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at the Galveston Memorial Park in Hitchcock, Texas.