Eric Travis Ward

  Eric Travis Ward, 37, died Monday, June 8, 2009 after a brief fight with cancer at his home which he designed and built for his family in Delta, Colorado.
    He was born Sept. 30, 1971. in Grand Junction, Colo., to Gary and Donna Ward.
    He was raised in the Appleton area and Fruita, where he loved to be outdoors, ride his dirt bike and work on his “inventions.” He graduated from Fruita Monument High School in 1990. He then studied electrical engineering at Mesa State College for two years, Bible at Pacific Christian College in Fullerton, Calif., for one year, and then went to Manhattan, where he received his BA in pastoral ministries from Manhattan Christian College in 1998.
    He was married to Kristi Salmans of Hanston on July 4, 1997. They moved to Delta, Colo., immediately following their college graduation to take their first and only full-time ministry position at the Delta Christian Church.
   Survivors include his wife, Kristi; his three children, Elizabeth, Adam and Alex; his parents, Gary and Donna Ward of Fruita, Colo.; his grandmother, Eleanor Bower of  Hotchkiss; three brothers, David (Amy) Ward of Fruita, Jeffrey (Jenny) Ward of Arvada, Colo., and Matthew Ward of Fruita; one sister, Kimberly (Josh) Cooley of Palmer, Alaska; in-laws Walt and Gwen Salmans of Hanston; and four brothers-in-law, Oliver (Christy) Salmans of Hanston, Justin (Jessica) Salmans of Wichita, Luke (Ashley) Salmans of Houston, and Levi Salmans and fiancée, Emily York, of Hays.
  A memorial service took place at 10 a.m. June 10 at the Delta High School Gym. on Pioneer Road, Delta, Colo.
    Memorial contributions in Eric’s name may be made to the Eric Ward Memorial Park in care of Delta Christian Church, 795 1600 Road, Delta, CO 81416.  Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.  View the Internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com.