Kenneth D. Ward, Jr., 79, of Valley City, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Ken was born on February 2, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of the late Kenneth and Dorothy (Milligan) Ward, Sr.

Ken attended West High School in Cleveland. He was a United States Army veteran and proudly served our country during the Vietnam War. Ken was a member of VFW Post 5137 in Medina. He loved spending time outdoors and gardening. Ken had an appreciation for the beauty of wood and woodworking. He also thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of Santa Clause and was very good at it. He had a love for 50’s doo-wop and classic country music. Most of all, Ken loved the time he spent with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie (Nix) Ward, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage; his children, Kenneth Ward and Kelly Ward; granddaughter, Casey; godchildren, Jenny Nix – Franz and Andrea Harrison – Beas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Dale Nix; brother, Richard L. Ward; and sister, Sandra Periandri.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Ken’s nephew, Rick Periandri for the special bond he maintained with him.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 5-8 pm at Waite Funeral Home: 3300 Center Road, Brunswick, OH 44212. A Celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 10:30 am. Burial with military honors will follow at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either, Tunnel to Towers Foundation – https://t2t.org or Disabled American Veterans – https://dav.org. Messages of comfort and support may be sent to the family at www.waitefuneralhome.com.