Ward Phelps Fisher, 91, a fifty year resident of Oak Park, died peacefully on March 22, 2017. A lifelong Chicagoan, Ward was born May 26, 1925.

In his youth, he was president of his class at McKinley High School and an Eagle Scout. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in WWII and served as a lieutenant. He received his B.S. in political science from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1952. He was a passionate defender of truth, justice, and freedom ,and fought in the courts and in life for social justice and individual and civil rights. He practiced law in the state of Illinois for more than 60 years.

Ward married his high school sweetheart, Rita Guerrieri, who was an educational psychologist, in 1947. He is survived by daughters Joan Carroll (Rick) of Alexandria Township, NJ; Lynn Fisher (David Kundla) of Austin, TX; Karen Fisher of Chicago; grandchildren Lindsay, Chelsea, Giancarlo and Margarita and great grandson Griffin.

A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m. at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street.