Engineer. I say that because I just watched an episode where Ward was an engineer with the Seabees in WWll. It makes sense to me he would have continued that trade into private life.

I used to think insurance, when I heard him talking about the marketing for a big client.

We'll never know, just like with Ozzie. But it's fun to guess.

I had thought insurance as well, with Fred Rutherford. Usually an engineer's office will have at least some model parts or structures, and/or drawings laying around. There wasn't much seen to indicate engineering, though as you said his Seabees background might've led to that.

I had thought insurance as well, with Fred Rutherford. Usually an engineer's office will have at least some model parts or structures, and/or drawings laying around. There wasn't much seen to indicate engineering, though as you said his Seabees background might've led to that.
Keep in mind that are many different branches within the field of engineeering so not all engineering offices would necessarily appear as you described.

Keep in mind that are many different branches within the field of engineeering so not all engineering offices would necessarily appear as you described.

Although Bill Davis (Family Affair) was always taking off to oversee jobs, where Ward doesn't. Bill Davis's office looked pretty ordinary to me (most of the time).
Maybe Ward could have been an engineering consultant, or something like that.

Its also been hinted on the show that Ward was an accountant.

Do engineers normally conduct surveys with women shoppers?

When we did see Bill Davis' office on Family Affair, if I recall correctly there was a drafting table visible on occasion -- my point was that NEVER did we see ANYTHING in Ward's office that would hint at engineering. If I'm mistaken, I'd love to hear of an example to the contrary...!

Look at Steve Douglas' offices on My Three Sons. Now those were science/engineering all the way.

True enough...!

I also don't recall seeing anything in Ward's office to lean towards engineering...or any other job for the matter. That would give it away. For whatever reason, they just didn't want Ward's job to be known.
Everyone knew Bill Davis, and Steve Douglass were engineers. Why keep Ward's job a secret..?

I've also read that the writers of these shows didn't necessarily keep up with the "facts" other writers had written into past scripts.
So a clue in one show conflicts with clues in the other shows.

I've also read that the writers of these shows didn't necessarily keep up with the "facts" other writers had written into past scripts.
So a clue in one show conflicts with clues in the other shows.

So it's useless to speculate. Just like trying to figure out where Mayfield is.

So it's useless to speculate. Just like trying to figure out where Mayfield is.
Exactly!!

We'll never know, just like with Ozzie. But it's fun to guess.

I agree..!

In the episode "Lumpy's car trouble" You can see a certificate on the wall in Ward's office. It says
THE STOCK EXCHANGE
Ward Cleaver

Just another clue, doesn't say exactly he does, but stock related I would guess.

I agree..!

You're agreeing with your own post? haha:)

He sold insurance or something

He sold insurance or something

I'll go with or something.;)

Glad you caught that !