ALBANY Doris Vater Ward, age 87, passed away on Sunday, December 16, 2018, after a long illness. Born December 29, 1930, in the Town of Gallatin, Columbia County. Doris was the daughter of the late Ernest Carl and Margaret Kruse Vater. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Vater Grant and brother, Ernest Claus Vater. Doris grew up in Mt. Ross, Duchess County. After attending five years at the one-room Mt. Ross School, she graduated Salutatorian from the Pine Plains Central School in 1948. After receiving her B.A. and M.A. degrees from New York State College for Teachers (UA) where she met her future husband, John Paul Ward. Doris taught science and mathematics at schools in New York and Massachusetts as well as the Lagos Anglican Grammar (secondary) School in Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. After retirement, Doris and her husband attended many Elderhostel programs both in the United States and abroad. An avid reader of historical fiction and mysteries she also become competent in oil painting. As a knitter since the age of seven, Doris formed a knitter’s group at the Avila Independent Retirement Center in Albany where she and her husband moved to in 2004. Friends and relatives greatly appreciated the knitted items made by Doris. She was always available to assist residents with their knitting problems. One project dear to her heart was the knitting of dozens of “Teddy Bear” sweaters for the Double H ranch for seriously ill children near Warrensburg founded by Paul Newman and Charles Woods. Doris and Paul enjoyed many years at their second home, a restored maple sugar house in East Grafton, N.Y. Doris was also an active member of the Friends of the Guilderland Library and the Grafton Historical Society. Doris is survived by her husband; a brother, John Brandt (Marigo) Pine Plains N.Y.; nieces, Glenda Brandt Brown (Peter), Tivoli; Cindy Vater Koch (Rich), Altamont; Susan Brandt, Boston; grand-nieces, Melissa Brown, Port Ewen, N.Y., Hannah Brown Sayward, (Dustin) Peru, N.Y. Calling hours will take place on Friday, December 21, at 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. with a service to immediately follow. Burial will be held in Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: New York Oncology Hematology Foundation, 400 Patroon Creek Blvd., Albany, NY, 12206.
