Former Mac PD detective dies

Former McMinnville Police Sgt. Terry “TJ” Ward died of cancer Saturday, April 18. He was 77.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the Leslie Lewis Pavillion on the Yamhill County Fairgrounds.

Ward grew up in Newberg and joined the Marines on Aug. 7, 1967, after graduating from Newberg High School. He served as a machine gunner in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.

Honorably discharged on Sept. 4, 1969, after being wounded, he returned to Oregon with two Purple Hearts, the National Defense and Vietnam service medal and awards for combat action and good conduct. He also received a rifle marksmanship badge and trained as a marksmanship instructor at Camp Pendleton.

Ward returned to Newberg and resumed his job at Naps IGA. He also joined the Newberg police reserves, in which he spent 1 1/2 years.

In 1972, he was hired by the McMinnville Police Department. He served four years on patrol before becoming a detective investigator and, later, sergeant. He retired in October 1998.

“He was very proud of his service in both the military and the police,” said his daughter, Theresa Andrade.

Ward was involved in local veterans’ organizations and the cafe at the Vets Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping at the coast, his daughter and granddaughter, Tahlia Andrade, said.

They called their father and grandfather “ornery” and good-humored. They said he “absolutely loved” his family, which included his late wife, Linda, who died in 2021, along with his daughter and son, Sean Ward, eight grandchildren and six great-grandkids.