Drew Foster Ward was born February 12, 1950, and died August 10, 2017, after having fought a terminal lung disease for the last year.  He passed away at home with his wife Karen (whom he often referred to as his “gold nugget”) by his side. 

Drew spent his youth gold-mining and playing guitar with his family and friends. He enjoyed traveling to Montana and Idaho for music competitions.  He graduated from Las Plumas High School, in Oroville, Ca.  

Drew then joined the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and served four years of active duty plus two years in the reserves.  He earned two medals for his service including the National Defense Service medal and the USCG Good Conduct Medal.  His main duty assignment was on the buoy tender boats in Alaska, even though he was often sea sick, and his final duty station was in Fairhaven, Ca.  During his time in the USCG, he made two life-long friends, Matt and Don, and lots of memories from which he recounted many stories throughout his life.  In fact, story-telling was one of his past times, and Drew was very well known for his ability to tell stories. 

After serving his time in the USCG he embarked on a career in the logging industry and was proud to own his own logging business.  Drew was very passionate about working in the woods every day.  He loved it!  His other passions included camping, gold-mining, golfing, cooking, canning, and gardening.  Drew always looked forward to Sundays, when he would talk with his mom, Virginia Ruth Ward, and his younger brother Scott Ward, until Scott’s death on February 11, 2016.  Drew stayed in close contact with his older sister Larimee Ward. 

Drew is preceded in death by his father Douglas Ward and brother Scott Ward.  He is survived by many friends and family including but not limited to, his wife Karen Ward, mother Virginia Ruth Ward, sister Larimee Ward, children Dustin and Christina Ward, Crystal Ward and John McErlain, Jason Ward and Beth Tulagan, Angela Ward and Trent Martin, Kenny and Emily Vollenweider, and Kyle Vollenweider, grandchildren Douglas Ward, Monica Ward, Daphne Ward, Kaylei Thurston, Kayla Ward, Cameron Martin, Austin Martin, and Conner Vollenweider, and great grandson William Ward.  A memorial will be held on September 30, 2017, at 3 PM at 2604 McKinleyville Ave., McKinleyville, CA. 

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The obituary above was submitted by Drew’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.