Gladys M. Bontrager Ward, 93, died early Thursday morning, November 13, 2008 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. She had been living in Seneca, KS until 2002 when she moved to The Fountains in Independence, MO, to be near her daughter.

She was born October 1, 1915, north of Goff, KS, the daughter of George Washington and Clara Troxel Bontrager. She attended Morning Star country school through 8th grade. In 1933, she graduated from the Goff rural high school.

On June 18, 1937, she married Archie Orin Ward in Holton, KS. They lived in Seneca where Gladys was a homemaker raising their two children, and her husband was in the Nemaha County Clerk’s Office and later worked at Citizens State Bank of Seneca for many years. He preceded her in death on April 19, 1971.

She is survived by her son, J. Alan Ward and (and wife Sandra) of Topeka; her daughter, Jan A. Childers (and husband Logan) of Lee’s Summit, MO; a brother, Scotty Bontrager of Wetmore, KS; a sister, Edith Reed of Pueblo, CO; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ward of Topeka and Mary Joy Brodnax of Sacramento, CA; six grandchildren, Dennis Ward (Dorinda) of Carbondale, KS, Amy Abernathy of Topeka, Julie Ward of McFarland, WI, Bradley Childers (Kenda) of Lone Jack, MO, Todd Childers (Shea), and Holly Godshall (Wade) of Lee’s Summit, MO; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Jim, Herb and Merle Bontrager; and two sisters, Ethel Barnes and Elma Spiker.

Funeral service will be 2:30 PM Monday, November 17, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Family will meet family and friends for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given for Kansas City Hospice House and Palliative Care, 12000 Wornall Rd, KC, MO, 64145; or the Seneca United Methodist Church, 806 Main St, Seneca, KS 66538; or the Arthritis Foundation, Kansas Chapter, 5339 SW 22nd Place, Topeka, KS 66614.