Janet May Ward

Janet M Ward, 89, of North Canton passed away peacefully at Whitewood Village AL on Sunday, March 31, 2024.  She had resided there for the last ten years and enjoyed the many activities like crafts, Bible Study, entertainment and especially the spelling bees.  Spelling was her specialty. 

Born October 4, 1934, to Gordon C. Schafer Sr and Luella M (Robison) Schafer in Akron OH.  Janet graduated at the top of her class from Kent State University High School in 1952.  She went to work until March 26, 1955, when she married her high school honey, Arthur V Ward.  They began their family and she became a stay-at-home mom until 1968 when the family moved to North Canton as Arthur was employed at the Hoover Company.  Shortly after the move she took a job at the North Canton Sun as a typesetter /editor.  When the paper folded for a time, she found employment at Standard Printing in Canton where she retired in 1992. 

Janet loved to read, shop for bargains, do cake decorating and go square dancing.  She and Art travelled in the US with their square-dancing friends from the Wahoo’s dance group in the area. 

Preceded in death by her parents and husband, she is survived by brother Gordon C. (Neil) Schafer Jr. (Karen), sister Marilyn J. Hawkins (James), children: Bonnie Bates, Rebecca Dahler, Bryan Ward (Natalie), and Brenda Bischoff; plus her very best friend Norene Kirby, eight grandchildren and 24 great grands, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Service will be Friday, April 12th at Arnold Funeral Home in Hartville.  Calling hours will be from 10a – 11a with the Funeral immediately following.  She will be laid to rest at the Restland Cemetery in Brimfield, Oh. 

If you prefer a donation gift in lieu of flowers, please consider Crossroads Hospice who were wonderful in Janet’s transition from this world to the next. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janet May Ward, please visit our floral store.