SOUTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Cecilia Mary (Butler) Ward, 79, of South Dartmouth, Mass. died Monday, June 19.

She was born in Lewiston. She was a blue ribbon-winning equestrian and valedictorian of her class at Lewiston High School, where her father had been principal before his untimely death when she was 13 years old.

She graduated from Trinity College in Washington in 1947, and began a career in radio that showcased her remarkable talent and passion for dramatic readings of poetry and stories. She also showed her flare for conversation at WLAM in Lewiston with on-air interviews of celebrities of the day, including legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa, boxer Joe Louis, poet Robert Frost and Brigadier General McAuliffe (renowned for his response “Nuts!” to the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge).

She brought English-language literature to life for many in the diplomatic corps with her work at the Hashemite Broadcasting Co. in Amman, Jordan, during her husband’s two-year brief with the U.S. Foreign Aid Agency in the early 1960s.

As president of the U.S. Foreign Womens’ Association, she met numerous dignitaries and potentates, including King Hussein of Jordan, with whom she danced at a state function in Jordan. She was a marketing assistant and manager of the Dartmouth Branch of Fairhaven Savings Bank (now Citizens) and a member, past-president and officer of the Women’s Luncheon Club, the Mothers’ Club, the University of Massachusetts Library Associates, and the Book Club.

She was the beloved wife of Dr. Richard J. Ward, former Dean of the School of Business at UMass-Dartmouth, and mother of four children, Timothy J. Ward, Esq., and his wife, Judge Virginia (McIntyre) Ward, of Bridgewater, Mass., Richard J. Ward Jr., and his wife, Jane (Lothscheutz) Ward, of Chantilly, Va., Mary Elizabeth (Ward) Bencks and her husband, Douglas Bencks, of Durham, N.H. and Christopher Butler Ward, and his wife, Patricia (Kelly) Ward, of Milford, Mass.; a sister, Elaine DiCesare of Kennebunkport; eight grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late John Butler and Ruane George.