Richard E. Ward

RICHARD “DICKIE” EUGENE WARD 1937-2022 PORTLAND--In remembering Dickie Ward, one would surely recall his energy, quick wit, and a constant unique laugh. His biggest asset, a strong, large heart stubbornly relinquished its final beat Friday evening August 5, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Rehab and Residence in Portland where he passed as the result of a traumatic brain injury suffered in an automobile accident in November 2016. Dickie was born on June 5, 1937, the youngest son of James Edward and Helena June (Brogan) Ward and grew up in the Greenleaf Street area of Portland. He attended area schools and graduated in 1955 from Portland High School. Along with his lifelong pal, Robert “Bubba” Larkin, Dickie was a proud member of the Portland High basketball squad coached by the legendary coach, Whopper Deetjen. Coach Deetjen often referred to Dickie as his Little Giant, thus Dickie’s nickname Whopper’s Little Giant. He also played baseball and was an active member of the Portland Boys Club. Many will remember Dickie as a longtime employee of the iconic Surplus Store on Monument Square in downtown Portland. Dickie was predeceased by his parents and his older brothers, James Edward “Eddie” Ward in 2007 and Robert Bradford “Brother” Ward in 2019. He is survived by niece Michelle Ward of Winslow and her daughter Meagan McLaughlin and grandson Maxwell Trussell, both of South Gardiner, niece Lisa Ward of Winslow, and nephew James Ward, his wife Heather and their daughters Haley and Leah, all of Winslow, and his sister-in-law Ann (Sylvester) Ward of South China, as well as several cousins. Visiting hours will be Wednesday August 10 from 4:00 to 7:00 at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at St. Joseph’s for their patience, kindness, and love towards Dickie for the past six years and the staff of Hospice of Southern Maine for his end-of-life care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dickie’s memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, 277 Cumberland Avenue, Portland, ME 04101.