Beulah Ard, 92, head of Park math department

Beulah "Boots" Smith Townsend Ard, former head of the mathematics department at Park School and professor at the Community College of Baltimore, died of a stroke Sunday at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, N.C. She was 92 and formerly lived in Forest Park.

She was born Beulah Waskey in Baltimore and raised on Callaway Avenue in Forest Park. After graduating from Western High School, she earned her bachelor's degree in 1929 from Goucher College. She received a master's degree in mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1965.

She began her teaching career at Annapolis High School, where she also coached the girl's basketball team.

In 1949, she joined the faculty of Park School, then on Liberty Heights Avenue. She eventually became head of the mathematics department at the school, which moved to Brooklandville in 1959. She retired in 1967.

Mrs. Ard also was a mathematics professor at the Community College of Baltimore.

A resident of Asheville since 1973, Mrs. Ard was an avid pingpong player and was a national champion in 1989, family members said.

She also enjoyed playing Scrabble.

Mrs. Ard's husband, Pressley Ard, died in 1990. She also was married to John A. Smith, Irwin Monk and Howard Townsend, all deceased.

Services will be held today in the chapel of the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Asheville.

Mrs. Ard is survived by a son, Charles A. Smith of Sparks; three daughters, Kay Smith Burr of Asheville, Ginny Smith Hanson of Glen Arm and Doreene "Dotty" Smith of Norfolk, Conn.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.