WHO WE ARE

Washington Funeral History

Ward Funeral Home is one of Washington County’s oldest businesses.

The Ward family came from Massachusetts and first settled in Hiawatha. Two years later they moved to Washington. Dwight A. Ward and his son, Ernest A. Ward, established a furniture and undertaking business in 1884. The store was located in a small frame building on the north side of the square. The next year it was moved into a room on the east side of the square. In 1886, a new building was constructed on the west side of the square, which now is occupied by R.L. Dusin Carpet Store.

Dwight, assisted by his son, Ernest, managed the furniture store and directed funerals until his death on January 23, 1890. Ernest then took complete charge of the business.

Bill Green joined the firm as an undertaker in 1895 and remained through the years until his retirement in 1953.

The business changed sites in 1931 when Ernest purchased the P.C. Swan home on West Second Street. The house was remodeled for a funeral home, the first in Washington County. The Ward Funeral Home operates at the same location today.

Arthur “Art” George married Eunice Ward, the youngest of Ernest’s three daughters. He went to work with his father-in-law in 1934. When Ernest died in 1953, Art was put in full charge of the furniture store and the mortuary. He later purchased the Tauber Funeral Home, Greenleaf, in 1971, the Harry George Funeral Home, Washington, in 1980, and the Singular Funeral Home, Linn, in 1986. The funeral homes in Linn and Greenleaf were renamed Ward Funeral Home. Art was involved with the business for over 60 years, later serving in a semi-retired position until his death in 2000.

John George, Arthur and Eunice’s son, joined his father as a funeral director shortly after graduating from Central State University with a degree in Mortuary Science.

In 2007, the business was sold to Dustin Zutterman and Cleve Walstrom of Marysville. The transition ended 123 years of service by four generations of the Ward family – Dwight A. Ward, Ernest A. Ward, Arthur George and John George.

In 2023, Cleve Walstrom retired and sold his shares to his son, Woody Walstrom.



The current owners are Dustin Zutterman and Woody Walstrom.

Founders