Ward Hill Mcafee

Mr. Ward Hill McAfee, age 87, passed away peacefully on May 17th at his home with his wife and daughter at his side.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dolores Settles McAfee, Daughter Cindy McAfee, Sister Lillian McAfee Spurr, his beloved grandpuppies Bounder, Ching, and Diva and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Mabel Harris McAfee, Father Robert McAfee, Sisters Eva Ray Pound and Ina Fern McAfee, Brothers Harris McAfee, R. Lee McAfee, Maurice McAfee, Wade McAfee, and Preston McAfee.

Ward was born and raised in Mt. Washington Ky. where he graduated from Mt. Washington High School. He lived in Mt. Washington until he was married in 1951 when they moved to Louisville where he resided the rest of his life. Ward joined the Army during WWII and was sent to Fort Knox to enter the Armored Replacement Unit. From there he was sent to Camp Shanks in New York to be deployed to Europe. He was loaded on the Louis Pasteur Ship which was the fastest ship in the world and could outrun submarines. They did not go in a convoy due to the ship's speed but followed the US coast to the Bahamas then turned towards Europe via the South Atlantic. They landed in Liverpool England where he boarded a train for South Hampton England where he took an LST ship to Le Harve France. He joined his outfit, the 14th Armored Division, in Alsace-Lorraine. He served under General George S. Patton during the Battle of the Bulge. He was on the front lines during combat in tanks and was fortunate that he was not wounded. He often remarked about General Patton wearing his pearl handled pistol and that he made sure that his front line soldiers received special rations. When the war ended he was sent to Berghausen Germany in the Army Occupation as a Company Clerk. People enjoyed hearing all of his exiting adventures while serving his country.

His career was in Mortgage Banking where he began working for Southern Trust Company which was acquired by LaClede Bond and Mortgage Company. After many successful years LaClede was purchased by Citizens Fidelity Bank where he was Vice President over the Residential Mortgage Department. He also traveled throughout Kentucky setting up correspondent Banks. Ward took early retirement during the time Citizens Fidelity Bank was acquired by PNC Bank.
He attended the University of Louisville and was a Licensed Real Estate Appraiser for the State of Kentucky. He did Real Estate Appraising after he retired from the Bank until he was 75 years old.

His kindness, gift of gab, and quick wit made him a favorite of so many people he touched during his lifetime. He was appointed a Kentucky Colonel under Governor Julian Carroll, a member of the JC's, Kentucky Homebuilders Association, Louisville Board of Realtors, Real Estate Appraisal Association, and past President of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Louisville.
Ward was a member of the Mount Washington Methodist Church until he married in 1951 and converted to Catholicism. He was a very spiritual person who loved God and his Church. He has been a member of St. Albert the Great Church for the past 27 years.

His hobbies included Bowling with his buddies from Citizens Fidelity Mortgage Company, playing Poker with a men's group and a couples group and several Canasta groups. He loved Antiques and nothing pleased him more than to take Dolores and Cindy to a small Kentucky town searching for hidden treasures. He loved to travel and toured throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. One of his favorite destinations was Venice Italy where he loved sitting on St. Marks Square listening to beautiful music while sipping on wine and eating cheese.

He was blessed to have many wonderful physicians care for him throughout his illnesses, keeping him in the best health attainable. Some of these physicians include Dr. Thomas Schurfranz, Dr.Nicholas Mattingly, Dr. Thomas Bergamini, Dr. Lisa June, Dr. Patrick Hayden, Dr. Patrick Williams, Dr. Kenneth Anderson, and Dr. Trevor Soergel. The family would also like to give special thanks to the Hosparus of Louisville caregivers, The Robley Rex VA Home Based Primary Care staff, Caregivers Julian Shields, Ernest Shields, and Melinda Shields, and special friends who assisted during Ward's illness Patricia Coppage, Patricia Jenkins, Danny Hutchins, Susan Manley, and our many wonderful neighbors.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to be made to Hosparus of Louisville or The Robley Rex VA Medical Center c/o Voluntary Services, 800 Zorn Ave., Louisville Ky. 40206. The donations will be used to support Veteran's needs.

The family would welcome your presence at a Memorial Mass to honor Ward on June 1, 2013 at 11:30am at St. Albert the Great Church, 1395 Girard Dr. Louisville Ky.

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