Sondra L. Ward, 72, formerly of Knightdale, died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in Carthage.
She was born Sondra Lewis June 26, 1939, in Penfield, Pa., and lived most of her school years near Buffalo, N.Y. After graduating from high school, Sondra was employed as a secretary for the FBI in Buffalo, the Secret Service in San Francisco, and then for the State Department with an assignment to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. While in Tehran, she met David Ward, an embassy Marine guard, and they were married in Oklahoma in 1969. David died tragically in an automobile accident in 1996.
In 1973 Sondra began working for the state of North Carolina as a secretary in the division of archives and history. She moved to the Historic Preservation Office and retired as an administrative assistant in 1999.
During her retirement years, Sondra traveled throughout Europe and the American Southwest. She actively supported wildlife, the environment and the SPCA. She was an active member of the Wake County Herb Society and volunteered regularly at the Knightdale Public Library.
Sondra is survived by her sister, Dr. Dolores Burke, of Fayetteville, Ark.; and brother, Gary Lewis, of Pinehurst.
Memorial donations may be made to the Community Presbyterian Church, Worship Restricted Music Account, P.O. Box 1449, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst is assisting the family.