Obituary of James Ward

A Christian celebration of the courageous life James Ward, lifetime resident of the New London/Overton, Texas area, will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday March 12, 2014 in the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home Chapel, Overton, Texas with Reverend Ken Hayman officiating. Burial will follow at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery Henderson. Family visitation will be Tuesday 6:00-8:00 at Cottle-Pearson. James Passed passed peacefully from this world on Saturday, March 8 in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, at the age of 89. He was born September 18, 1924 in Ozan, Arkansas, to Jeff and Jennie Jackson Ward and attended school in Overton where he participated in track and football. He worked as a messenger for Western Union and in the shipyards at Houston prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corp. While in the service he was a fighter plane mechanic and served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe and the Europe Air Offensive for which he was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with six bronze stars, a Good Conduct Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge with one Oak Leaf Cluster. James will probably be best remembered for his big smile, the courageous efforts to maintain a productive lifestyle following his paralysis, and the mowing services he provided for his neighbors, as well as the Piney Woods Baptist Encampment. He loved his coffee, grandchildren, fishing and camping at Lake Greeson, Ar. James was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Mollie Sealey Ward; his parents; two brothers, Rev. Freddie Ward and Kenneth Dale Ward; a sister, Betty Freeman. He is survived by his two daughters, Judy Ward Worthen and husband Philip of Mt. Pleasant, Tx, and JoAnn Ward Jones of Hallsville, Tx. (and friend Jim Sweeden of Arkansas); brother, Horace Ray Ward of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law, Francis Ward of Kilgore, Tx and sister-in-law Ann Ward of Henderson, Tx; sister-in-law, Thelma Jo Sealey Hays of Tomball, Tx; brother-in-law, Travis Sealey and wife Pat of Longview. James is also survived by six grandchildren: Tina Carver (Jeff), L. Mike Ward (Amy), Paula Mitchell (Gilbert), Jennifer Sorenson (Josh), James Chapman (Kendra), Shellie Cary (James), two step-grandsons Aaron Worthen (Megan) and Adam Worthen; fifteen great-grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and friends.