Huntsville, Texas - Norman Ward, 93, a Huntsville business and civic leader and founder of the Huntsville Men's Choir, passed away peacefully on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. Born October 7, 1931 to John Henry Ward and Cassie Ward, Norman grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where he learned baseball, a lifelong passion, pitching batting practice for the Beaumont Exporters, a New York Yankees AA farm club. He received a music education degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, where he met and married a fellow student, June Hardy, before joining the U.S. Army in 1954. Stationed in Germany, Norman worked as a radar specialist and pitched for the Fourth Army baseball team, making its All-Star roster. Returning to the states after his tour of duty, Norman received his master's in Choral Conducting from Baylor University on the G.I. bill and taught at Ector Junior High in Odessa, Texas. Norman and June moved to Huntsville after June's father encouraged them to join his furniture business. In 1965, Norman and June took ownership of Hardy Furniture. In 1985 the store moved to the old Plaza Hotel building and became Ward Furniture.

Named the Huntsville Item's "Citizen of the Year" in 2001, Norman dedicated his life to serving the community he loved. A member of the Chamber of Commerce Board and the Huntsville Independent School Board, Norman taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and had several stints as its Interim Minister of Music. In 1992, Norman formed the Huntsville Men's Choir, which grew from 13 to 65 members, including many U.S. military veterans, and performed under Norman's leadership with the Sam Houston State University Men's and Women's Choirs, for two Houston Astros games and at the Houston opening of Ken Burns' documentary, "The War." Fiercely dedicated to preserving the memory of veterans' contributions, Norman was instrumental in the development of the HEARTS Veterans Museum, served three terms on its Board and worked to prepare the site for the 2022 installation of the Vietnam War Memorial replica.

Norman was preceded in death by his siblings Carl, Thelma, Byron and Bernice. He is survived by June Ward, his wife of 71 years; son David Ward (Jackie Ward), daughter Laura Ward (David Newmann), and grandchildren Scottie Lynn Ward, Madison Lee Ward, Emma Ward Newmann and Joseph Hardy Newmann.

A memorial service will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Donations in Norman's memory may be made to the HEARTS Veterans Museum.