Carlyn "Junior" Mance Ward

Carlyn (“Junior”) Mance Ward, 96, formerly of Cambria, departed this life on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in Union, Missouri, following a long battle with cancer. 

Carlyn was born in Cobden, Illinois, on October 30, 1929, the son of Mance Field Ward and Elvernia Ward, (nee Vaughn). On September 13, 1948, he was united in marriage to Vesta Maxine Ward (nee Sprague). They were married for 60 years before her death in 2008.

Carlyn is survived by his sons, Mark Steven Ward of St. Charles, Missouri and Carl Matthew Ward and his wife, Judith Ward (nee Hackmeyer), both of Villa Ridge, Missouri; three grandchildren, Jennifer Jones of Phoenix, Arizona, Terri Ward and wife Heather (nee Ashley) of St. Peters, Missouri, and Megan Donovan of High Ridge, Missouri, her husband Shane; and seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Rileigh, Tommy,  Carlito, Bishop, Gio and Joanna; as well as his sisters-in-law, Linda, Mary, Betty and Bonnie; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.  

He was preceded in his death by his father and mother; his stepmother, Oda; his brothers, Ronald, Randy, Donald, and Carroll; and his sisters, Dora, Margie, Betty, and Irma. 

Carlyn was a machinist, a tool and die maker and a machine shop foreman. While working for McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis, he did work on the Mercury and Gemini space capsules. During his lifetime, he built a custom car of his own design which won many auto shows. He also designed a rear-engine sprint car that competed in races in the mid-to-late 1970s. He was an avid sprint car racing fan and attended many sprint car races around the country.  

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Hinchcliffe Cemetery in Cambria, with Pastor Danny Ward officiating.

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