Janice Ward

I am Robert’s aunt. His mother and I are sisters. I spent a lot of time with Robert from his birth until he married.

When he was a teenager and into his 20’s he and his sister Anita spent a lot of time at my house and with my daughter Reginna. They used to go dancing together.

Before I separated from my husband Robert’s immediate and my immediate family vacationed together and we went camping at Huaco Springs and went tubing in the river. We went to Acquarina Springs and Natural Bridge Caverns too.

Once while we were touring the main cave Robert who was about 11 saw a dark mound that said “Guano.” As he reached out to touch it I stopped him and told him not to touch it. He asked why since it was not a formation and I told him it was poop. He thought I was kidding and asked the tour guide what Guano was. “It’s bat sh*t!” was the reply and Robert withdrew his hand.

After that we went back and tubed the river some more.

I was married to Allen Ward for 18 years. Robert and his sister Anita were like our own children and their family and mine spent a lot of time together. They stayed at my house and my daughter stayed at their house.

I was 15 years old when Robert was born. I went home with his mother and dad to help Dolly recover. I spent weekends with them and weeks at a time with them during summer breaks.

After my high school graduation ceremony my mother took pictures and I was holding Robert in all of them.