Ward, James Ellis

Former mayor of Santa Ana, James Ellis Ward, passed away on June 18, 2015 from cardiac arrest in Tustin, CA.

Jim was born on February 21, 1932 in Redlands, CA where he grew up and attended school. After graduating high school, Jim joined the US Coast Guard, married Lora Lee Barker and moved to New London, CT, to New Orleans, LA and later to Galveston, TX while still in the service.

After his service, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo in 1958. He joined the firm Blurock & Ellerbroek (later, Blurock Partnership Architects & Planners, Newport Beach), from which he retired as a partner in 1991. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and received the Design Merit award from the Orange County chapter in 1985.

In the 1990's, Jim had a second career as a real estate agent with Tarbell Realtors.

Jim was first elected to the Santa Ana city council in 1973. He served as mayor of that city from 1979 to 1981. From 1983-1987 he served on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board as an elected member. He was also a board director of the Young Men's Christian Association in Santa Ana from 1969-1970.

Jim met and married his second wife, Patricia Luther, in 1997. They lived, worked and retired in Tustin.

Jim is survived by his wife, Pat; five children: Janet Dooley, Richard Ward, Robbin Ward, Michael Ward and Jonathan Ward; and his seven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Goodwill Orange County, 410 N. Fairview Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703 or at: www.ocgoodwill.org