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Gene R. Ward died on April 4, 2025. He was 82 years old. Ward served as a State House Representative between 1990-1998 and 2006-2025, most recently serving Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley, and Portlock. Gene was born in Conneaut, Ohio on March 9, 1943. He died at home and is now with the Lord. He loved this country. In 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War as a translator-interpreter. Gene was buried at The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ("Punchbowl Cemetery") with military honors. He loved to serve people. Gene was a Peace Corps volunteer in Borneo, Malaysia, serving a village of Murut headhunters and becoming the principal of a village school. After returning stateside, Gene was a grantee of East-West Center and co-founded the Hawaii Entrepreneurship Training and Development Institute (HETADI). In 2005, Gene served as the Peace Corps Country Director in East Timor (Timor-Leste) and in May 2006, after being suddenly evacuated to Hawaii from East Timor due to civil unrest, Gene once again served his community by becoming a State Representative. He held this position until March 31, 2025. He loved his family. He leaves behind the love of his life of over 55 years of marriage, Faredah Shamsudin Ward, and his loving, smart, and beautiful daughter, Johanna Mei Ping Ward, who will continue the legacy he only just started. Faredah was not only his partner in life but his partner in business, owning two clothing boutiques at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. But perhaps the greatest partnership they ventured in together, with arms wide open, was raising Johanna. His wife and daughter thank the countless people in Hawaii and beyond for their unwavering support during this difficult time. A memorial service open to the public will be held at King’s Chapel in Niu Valley on Monday, May 5th at 10am. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC |
