ABSTRACT
The Harry Wards' senior years brought new rituals to be fulfilled. Family rites faded into memories and gave place to pathos associated with anniversaries and death's painful punctuations on the pages of life. Independent testimony given by her children, grandchildren, and friends reports Ward's extraordinary patience and understanding in caring for her. When Ward expressed a dash of anger, the family members were ill at ease during its usually short duration. Ward's pension from Union Theological Seminary, combined with his Social Security, added up to a little over $4,000 a year. Ward's short request "In Case of Fatal Accident" proved to be strikingly similar to the "Last Will" of Joe Hill, a leader who was a folk hero of Ward and his family.
