CLEARWATER, Fla. — Dr. Harold M. Ward of Clearwater, formerly of the Shenango Valley, passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, in Mease Countryside Hospital. A four-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, he died of pulmonary fibrosis hypertension. He was 81.

Dr. Ward was born April 30, 1928, in Sharon to William and Elizabeth Davis Ward.

He graduated in 1946 from Sharon High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of World War II. He then went on to Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi.

Dr. Ward then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

He married the former Margaret Christy in 1953 and attended Kirksville (Mo.) College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he graduated in 1957, served an internship and did his ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat residency.

He started a practice in Largo in 1961 where he practiced for 36 years.

In 1986, he started the Indian Rocks State Bank in Largo, where he served as chairman of the board until it merged with First National Bank of Pennsylvania and First National Bank of Florida, that later became Fifth Third Bank.

He attended and graduated from Prochnow Banking School at the University of Wisconsin.

He was a past president of the Belleair Bluffs (Fla.) Rotary Club, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and Osteopathic College of Ophthamology (OCOO); and was a board member for 14 years of the Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund.

Dr. Ward was also a licensed contractor and interested in geology. He was a triathlon winner and a missionary in Ecuador, where he treated eye diseases and cataracts.

During his retirement, he and his wife traveled the world. He loved life and all those around him.

He is survived by: his loving family, his wife of 56 years, Margaret “Monee” Ward, at the residence in Clearwater; his children, Dr. Elaine Ward; Dr. Chris Ward and his wife Stephanie and their son Christopher; Dr. Thomas Ward and his wife Stacie and their children, Caroline and Thomas; his sister, Elizabeth Ward Claiborne, Charleston, S.C.; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dr. Harold M. Ward to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Pancreatic Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612.

Friends were received from 10 a.m. to time of service Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in St. John Episcopal Church, 1676 South Belcher Road, Clearwater, with funeral services held at 11 a.m. in the church. The Rev. Glad McCurtin, rector, was officiant. Graveside services were held at 12:30 p.m. at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park Cemetery, Clearwater.