Ward Richard Tifft

Ward Richard Tifft passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at the Bridge at Sandpoint on the 12th of February from late stage Lewy Body dementia. Ward was born in Sandpoint on June 22nd, 1920 to Carl and Lucy Tifft. Ward grew up in Sandpoint enjoying the outdoors including hiking, camping, hunting and especially fishing. He attended the University of Idaho and then Gonzaga University and learned to fly in Spokane. He met Ruth M. Skinner from Bozeman, Montana in Spokane where she was attending Kinman Business College. They were married in the Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida on March 19th, 1943. He was taking his Navy flight training there during the early part of World War II. Ward saw service first in the Caribbean and then in the Pacific. He was a Navy Lieutenant and primarily flew a PV-1. He was always very proud of his time in service. Later in life Ward spent many years organizing reunions for his flight squadron and in fact took to wearing the reunion hats around town and they became a sort of trademark for him. When the war ended Ward and Ruth returned to Sandpoint and Ward joined his father’s insurance business, The Tifft Agency. Ward later branched out into real estate and continued working in real estate into his 80’s. Ward loved the beauty of Sandpoint and lake Pend Oreille and he was active in many aspects of the community. He especially loved the Kiwanis Club. He was particularly devoted to their work improving and maintaining Camp Stidwell at Mirror Lake and working with the Boy Scouts there. He also belonged to the Board of Realtors, the Elks, and served on various other civic projects and committees over the years and always was faithful to the Methodist Church. Ward always loved flying and he and his father, Carl were instrumental in the purchase of property that made the Sandpoint Airport possible. Both Ward and Ruth flew and they purchased a plane to use for real estate business and pleasure. There was nothing they enjoyed more than donating a flight to a fund raiser and taking the winners flying. They enjoyed taking friends and family flying as well. Ward enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors and outdoor activities with his family. He loved teaching family and extended family about nature, how to water ski, camp and pick huckleberries and much more. Be it son, daughter, granddaughters or great grandson and great granddaughter he made sure we all learned to fish. Ward was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Lucy Tifft, his brother Duane Tifft, sister Lois Lanphear, and his dear wife Ruth. He is survived by his daughter Carol J. Schultz, (husband Mark Schultz) his son Jerry A. Tifft, two granddaughters Cassandra Tifft and Jennifer Tifft, great grandson Daniel Tifft, great granddaughter Nikkia Moyer and great great granddaughter Melina Tifft. He loved his family and church the most but fishing and flying were next. Memorial services will be held at 10:30am, Tuesday, June 30th in the Sandpoint United Methodist Church. Pastor Stan Norman and Pastor Geri Harvill will be officiating. Military recognition and honors will be provided. Memorial may be made in Ward’s name to: Alzheimer's and Dementia Research at www.alz.org and 1 800 272 3900 and the United Methodist Church in Sandpoint, Idaho.