1937 – 2014

AUBURN — Gilbert “Gil” Allan Ward, 76, of Chesterville, died Sunday, April 13, at the Androscoggin Hospice House.

Born in Milford, Mass., on Dec. 2, 1937, Gilbert was the son of the Rev. Edward G. and Ruth (MacMicheal) Ward. He graduated from Wells High School in 1955, and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Gorham State Teachers College and his master’s degree in education from Boston University. Gil married his wife, Razell (Smedberg) Ward, on July 27, 1996, at Webb Lake in Weld.

Gil was an active and dedicated leader of many social service and educational institutions, holding many positions that served others, including principal of Shapleigh School, superintendent of Bridgewater schools in Bridgewater, Mass., and principal of Mount Blue Middle School.

He then worked in social services as director of the Workforce Development Center, Tri-County WIC program and the Tri-County Health Services with Western Maine Community Action as the director of operations.

For the past 10 years, he was the executive director of Rural Community Action Ministry in Leeds, a position of which he often said, “This was the job I was always meant to have.”

In his younger years, he was proud of being a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a member of the Ogunquit Police Department. He also enjoyed other sidelines as a milk tester for DHIA and as a bartender.

Gil served on a number of boards and committees during his lifetime, including as a member of the board of the State Manpower Planning Committee, board chair of Franklin County Community Action Council, member of the board of directors of Community Concepts, the Family Planning Association, the Red Cross, the New England Training and Employment Council and the National Alliance of Business.

He also was a member of the Maine Commission for Community Service and the Advisory Council for SeniorsPlus. Gil was recently recognized by the Maine Legislature with a legislative sentiment for his work on behalf of the rural people in Maine.

In his spare time, Gil enjoyed bird-hunting, fly-fishing at his secret fishing spots and kayaking with his daughters. He was especially proud to be a member of the Carrabassett Mud Football Association with his son and in 2006, was inducted into the Mud Football Hall of Fame in North Conway, N.H.

Gil is survived by his wife, Razell, of Chesterville; and his children and the children he welcomed into his life as his own: son, Brett Ward, of Lewiston; his daughters, Wendy and Bonnie of Minot; son, Dennis Adams and wife, Sonja, of Melbourne, Fla.; son, Shawn Sawyer, of Osaka, Japan; and daughter, McKinley Adams, of Portland. Other survivors are his grandchildren, Sabine, Kat and Sarah; his sister, Janice Randlett and husband, Brad, of Westwood, Mass.; his father and mother-in-law, Roger and Gayle Smedberg of Oxford; as well as his extended family, beloved nieces and nephews, friends and caregivers.