Donald Philip Ward

Donald Philip Ward, 92, of Orange, CA passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 29, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He grew up in El Segundo and Hawthorne, graduating from Mount Carmel High School of Los Angeles in 1950. After serving his country with honor in the Korean War, Donald pursued his education at Loyola University of Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  His professional career spanned 32 years in the field of Aerospace Engineering with North American Aviation and Rockwell International where he contributed to some of the most significant achievements of the 20th century, including the Apollo Missions that landed a man on the moon, the development of  NASA’s Space Shuttle programs, and the B-1 Bomber.

Donald married Catherine Kaltz in 1964 and together they raised a family of six children and shared a partnership rooted in faith and mutual support. For the past 60 years, they lived together in Orange and were parishioners of St. Norbert Catholic Church. Donald was an avid outdoorsman who appreciated nature and was most happy spending time with his family. With Catherine, he explored many U.S. national parks and continued to enjoy camping excursions to the Sierra Nevada with family until he was 86 years of age.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roland and Josephine Linke Ward, brothers Thomas W. Ward, and Robert F. Ward; and sister, Marjorie Koeller née Ward. 

Donald is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Catherine Ward; children, Diana Bell and her husband, Patrick, Donna Keller and her husband, Jim, Patricia McKimmey and her husband, Gary, David Ward and his wife, Erika, Donald Ward and his wife, Jennifer, and Jennifer Ward and her partner Tom; grandchildren, Micaela Norton and her husband, Bradley, Noah Keller, Lauren, Michael, Steven, Claire, and Madeline McKimmey, Patrick and Elizabeth Ward, Matthew Ward, and Madison Altneu and her husband, Justin; great grandchildren Katana Scruitsky Wedemeyer, Raymond Norton, and Lennon Altneu.

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