Adelaide Cobb Ward

Adelaide Cobb Ward of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away January 7, 2022. Born May 5, 1933, in Canton, Ohio, she was the second daughter born to Edward "Ty" Cobb and Christine Selby Cobb. She graduated from Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio and received her undergraduate degree from Briarcliff College in Briarcliff Manor, New York. On December 17, 1955, she married Louis Larrick Ward of Kansas City, Missouri. Her husband was the President and CEO of Russell Stover Candies, Inc. The mother of three children, she was very involved in their education serving on the Board of the Pembroke Country Day School, and as trustee of both the Sunset Hill School and St. Paul's Episcopal Day School.

Throughout her life, "Addie" volunteered for several organizations including The Junior League of Kansas City, The Children's Center for the Visually Impaired and the Children's Relief Association. A longtime supporter of the arts, she served on the Board of Trustees of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In 1997, the Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Curator of European Painting and Sculpture endowment was created at the Nelson Atkins; and in 2007, the Adelaide Cobb Ward Sculpture Hall was dedicated. She was also a member of the Nelson Society and Society of Fellows. She also served as a member of the Jacob L. and Ella C. Loose Foundation. Addie was an emeritus trustee of the University of Kansas Endowment Association and a lifelong supporter of KU Athletics, demonstrated through her contributions to Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium's Ward Family Scholarship Suites.

As a chair of the Ward Family Foundation, Addie demonstrated her dedication to community through her association with Children's Mercy Hospital, The St. Louis Children's Hospital, the Salvation Army, Harvesters, City Union Mission and numerous other Kansas City organizations. Addie was a member of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, The Kansas City Country Club and a former member of The River Club.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister, Virginia Cobb Austin of Memphis, Tennessee. She is survived by her children: son Scott Hardman Ward (Alison), son Thomas Selby Ward (Debbie), and daughter Linda Ward O'Hara (John); nine grandchildren: Brian Ward (Arley), David Ward (Brooke), Taylor Ward, Catherine Ward Carothers (Brent), Elizabeth Ward, Mark Ward, David O'Hara, Tom O'Hara, and Katherine "Katie" O'Hara; and five great-grandchildren: Teddy, Tripp, Mae, Hadleigh and Carter. She is also survived by her niece, Christy Austin Cannon, and nephew, Albert "Chip" Austin, both of Memphis, Tennessee.

Private Burial. Celebration of Life to be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to University of Kansas Health System 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway Suite 305 Westwood, KS 66205 or online at www.giving.kansashealthsystem.com; Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108; The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111 or St. Louis Children's Hospital, One Children's Place, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1077.

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