Ward Christian Garing passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2006 following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 62 years old. Ward was born in Concord, CA and raised in Oakland. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton and earned a BA in Economics in l966. He went to work for Sears on an executive training program that was interrupted when he was drafted in l967. He served two years in the U.S. Army including a tour of duty at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam. While in the service he married his college sweetheart and best friend, Gloria Ann Jones, on Jan. 6, 1968.He returned to work with Sears and held various management positions in several stores before being promoted in l978 to manage the Sears store in Watsonville. He and his family moved to La Selva Beach and, when the store was closed a year later, obtained his real estate license. He later obtained his broker's license and did development work as a partner in Monterey Pacific Investors.In recent years, his love of western US history led to his writing historical fiction and non-fiction. He was published in both areas including a historical fiction novel, "Legacy: The Treaty of Little Big Horn." His research into the settling of the West led to extensive speaking engagements on several topics revolving around Native Americans and their various clashes with early settlers.Ward joined Freedom Rotary in 1979, served twice as club president and also held offices at the district level. He dedicated much of his time, over twenty years, to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program arranging for the exchange of several hundred high school students. In response to his service, Rotary District 5170 recently established a perpetual award in his name to be given each year to a Rotarian who has similarly contributed time and effort.He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Watsonville and served as an assisting minister.Ward enjoyed skiing, camping, model railroading and traveling.He is survived loving family; his wife of 38 years, Gloria, son Michael Garing and his partner, Charon Turner, of La Selva Beach; son and daughter-in-law, James and Nicki Garing of Roseville; two nieces and three grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.He was preceded in death by his parents, Merle and Verl Garing and his sister, Jerri Wilson.Contributions in his name are preferred to: The American Cancer Society 1710 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94612, Rotary International Foundation One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201, Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066, or Trinity Lutheran Church 175 Lawrence Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076.Visitation will be at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville, on Thursday, Aug. 31, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday, Sept. l, from 8 a.m.until the funeral. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Fri. Sept. 1, at Davis Chapel. A graveside service with military honors, at Pajaro Valley Memorial Park, and reception will follow.