July 27, 1924  - Dec 14, 2022

Ward Parkison Popenoe, age 98, of Clinton, WA, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2022, after a very long life and a very brief illness. He stayed true to his prediction that with each passing year it was less likely that he would succumb to a lingering illness. 

He was born on July 27, 1924 to Ruth Ethelyn Ward and Edwin Alonzo Popenoe in Topeka, Kansas. The family soon moved to Claremont California. Ward had varied interests, including theater, music, and sports. While his stage career faded, the other interests blossomed. Elizabeth Mathison** arrived at Claremont High School in time to capture Ward's attention. Shortly after beginning his studies at Pomona College in Claremont, Ward joined the United States Army Air Corp, where he became one of our heroes from the greatest generation, proudly piloting B-24 bombers in World War II. In the midst of his service, Ward and Elizabeth were married. After the war, Ward returned to Pomona where he played football at a time when players played both offense and defense and wore leather helmets. 

In 1948, Ward graduated with a degree in economics. With his CPA certificate, Ward began his career with the Kaiser Steel Company as an internal auditor. He moved through the ranks with Kaiser in Fontana, CA, the Bay area, Fernie, B.C. and finally Vancouver, B.C., where he retired as Vice President of Kaiser Resources. Following his retirement, Ward accepted a position as Vice President and head of finance for Expo '86, the World's Fair held in Vancouver, B.C. After that, Ward worked as Vice President and President of operations and finances for a variety of mining companies around the world. Ward and Elizabeth took advantage of the traveling opportunities. 

Ward retired for good in 1991, and divided his time between Sunriver, Palm Desert and Vancouver. Sunriver remained his happy place with family. Ward's continued interest in music and traditional jazz, in particular, took him to many concerts throughout the years. Sun Valley remained his favorite venue. 

After Elizabeth's passing in 2006, Ward met Connie McLellan with whom he spent his later years. They married in 2011 and built a life together on Whidbey Island. Not satisfied with the travel offered through his career, Ward and Connie traveled to Africa, S. America, China, Tibet, Cuba, New Zealand and Russia among other countries. 

Ward was a strict adherent to "Popenoe time", which defines 'on time' as 15 minutes early. As a lifelong runner and daily walker, he remained robust, active and sharp to the end of his life, although he eventually became more of a 'walker' walker. Talking politics and current events to the end, Ward was never one to shy away from a good debate. Ward was a remarkable, kind, funny and determined, father, husband, brother, colleague, friend and neighbor. He is remembered for his generous smile, charm, curiosity, integrity, joviality and wit. 

He found a sense of contentment among nature. Ward died looking out at Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound with Connie beside him. 

Ward was preceded in death by his first wife Elizabeth, son Daniel and brothers Edwin and Charles. He is survived by his wife Connie, daughter Martha Jay (Fred), son Ross Popenoe (Erica Forhan), sister Ethelyn Lunsford, grandchildren Tom Jay (Courtney) and Beth Johannessen (Tom), and great-grandchildren Daniel, Charles, and Catherine Jay and Erik and Alex Johannessen.