Benjamin Briggs Ward, M.D., was a man known for his deep faith, humility, and kindness. A lifelong seeker of knowledge, he began his education at the mission school run by his father in Persia before continuing to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and finally attending medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

During a summer vacation in Wickliffe, Ohio, Ben met his future wife, Annie Wade Young. Their correspondence blossomed into a romance, and they married in 1905. Together, they raised four children, creating a strong and loving family.

 

Dr. Ward began his medical career in Ohio, but family ties drew him to California. He practiced briefly in Sacramento and Lathrop before settling in San Fernando, California, where he served as both a practicing physician and the community’s health officer. During World War I, he was commissioned as a captain in the medical corps and stationed at Camp Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington.

 

In 1922, Dr. Ward joined a group of physicians on a study trip to Europe, enthusiastically writing home about the ideas he encountered and the inspiration he found. He dreamed of traveling with Annie to Europe on a future trip, but fate had other plans.

 

In the fall of 1926, Dr. Ward began experiencing difficulty walking. Over the next three years, his condition worsened, leading to complete paralysis. Despite losing his voice and movement, he left behind a treasure of memorable letters, written to his children, as a legacy of love and wisdom.

 

Dr. Ward passed away, fully paralyzed except for his eye movements, at his parents’ home in Eagle Rock on January 2, 1929.