TAPS: Captain Charles Ward Morris, U.S. Navy (Retired) passed away unexpectedly on 1 January, 2021 at the age of 83.

Charles MorrisCaptain Charles Ward Morris, U.S. Navy (Retired), died unexpectedly from acute respiratory failure and pneumonia on Friday, January 1, 2021 at the Virginia Hospital Center. Barbara, his wife of 56 years, was at his side. 

Born October 3, 1937, in Seattle, Washington, Ward was a 1959 graduate of Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, with a BA in English. He joined the US Navy and served for 31 years in Naval Intelligence. In 1991 he retired as Captain after serving at duty stations in Germany, Japan, Ft. Meade, Maryland, Washington, DC and Hawaii, where he met Barbara, a Navy Lieutenant. They married in 1964. 

Upon retirement in Alexandria, Virginia, Ward was an active supporter of numerous arts organizations including his great love, The Washington Opera where he volunteered for 26 years in the office and also as an opera supernumerary in roles such as soldier, courtier and priest. Ward also supported Wolf Trap Opera, Washington Performing Arts Society, The Kennedy Center, Washington Concert Opera, Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Wagner Society. Ward ("Renaissance Man" to Barbara) enjoyed courses on literature, history and art at the Smithsonian. He was an avid reader of history books about the Middle East, England and India. A foreign film fan, he admired the films of Bergman and Fellini. He was also a passionate cat lover and "parent" to many Siamese. 

 During 44 years as a parishioner at Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Ward served as an usher, Homeless Shelter and Brown Bag lunch volunteer, Meals on Wheels and seminarian lay committees. Ward was an avid runner and also a world traveler—he and Barbara visited one hundred countries. He made three long visits to India, his favorite. 

 In addition to Barbara, Ward leaves two nieces, Hilary and Virginia and one nephew, Christopher, all on the west coast. Ward donated his body to Georgetown University School of Medicine for anatomical study. Memorial services and interment of ashes at Arlington National Cemetery will be held upon completion of those studies. Gifts in Ward's memory may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22305.