Frances Archer Ward

Frances Archer Ward, 76, wife of Walter W. Ward of Trenton Michigan, passed away Monday, August 7, 2017, at the Rivergate Terrace Rehabilitation Facility. Born September 6, 1940, in New Kensington, PA, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Julia Dambroski of New Kensington. Frances was a unique character, a woman who encouraged laughter, love, and family. Fearful of taking risks early in life, she became a passionate adventurer in her later years. When not big game hunting on the Serengeti or scaling Everest, Frances enjoyed skydiving, camel racing, and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. She could be found on weekends tending her vineyard grapes and writing haiku. An avid birder, Frances is best known for discovering the Red-Eyed Blue Scrumpter – a new species of Amazonian bird. She was…the most interesting woman in the world. She will be missed. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Walter W. Ward of Trenton, Michigan, her children, Michael (Kelley) Ward of Grand Prairie, TX, Sharon (Frank) Hermes of Clarksville, TN, Margo Papp of Indianapolis, IN, Andy Diedrich of Oxford, Michigan, and Joe Ward of Trenton, Michigan; grandchildren Frank, Jamie, Aaron (Lauren), Gabrial (Megan), Alex, Emily, and Ian; great grandchildren Callen Archer and Eliza Kate; beloved aunt, Sunnie Suzio of New Kensington, PA; and dear sisters Sr. Lora Dambroski of Jefferson Hills, PA and Martina Ritenour of New Kensington, PA.