Darlene Gay Ward
Feb. 27, 1960-June 30, 1979
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 2, 1979, page 1, col. 6-8, microfilm Niles District Library
Head-on crash kills Niles woman, Cass man
CASSOPOLIS—A Niles woman and a Cassopolis man were killed in a head-on collision of the cars they were driving early Saturday morning on M-60 west of here.
Killed were Darlene Ward, 19, of 1618 Michigan St., Niles, and Ricky Lee Manley, 26, of Acropolis. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene, while Manley died in a hospital later in the morning. According to investigating officers, both were driving separate vehicles headed in opposite directions when they collided head-on. The crash remains under investigation.
Miss Ward, 19, was born Feb. 27, 1960 in Niles, and had lived there her lifetime. She was employed at Contract Packing, Cassopolis, and was engaged to be married in August, 1980. Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ward; two brothers, Walter Jr. III and Kenneth Lee, at home; a twin sister, Arlene, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ward of Buchanan; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ward L. Morgan of Niles; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.
She was a 1979 graduate of Niles High school, a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and the Bethlehem Church choir.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the Revs. W. D. Daniel and James Chism of Mount Calvary and Bethlehem Baptist, respectively, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends are calling at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, where a wake service will be conducted from 7 to 8 p.m. today.
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