Sunday, April 28, 2024
Born Dec. 23, 1927, to Malcom and Cora Ward, at home in the Ames Community near Gatesville, he was the baby of 14 siblings, seven boys and seven girls.
Drafted out of high school, in April before graduating in May of 1946, he joined the 11th Airborne Division of the Army, a paratrooper, serving in Sendai, Japan as a Buck Sgt., and for 12 months played basketball for the Army.
He worked for Houston Lighting and Power Co. for six years. He met and married the love of his life, Martha Pearl Browning, in 1950, and together they had two beautiful children – Tommy Ray and Jo Katherine.
He moved to Odessa in 1953 where he worked for TXU for 34 years as a general foreman. He retired in 1987.
He was an avid golfer, teeing up whenever he had the chance.
Joe loved to sing, and would sing for anyone anywhere, even at an airport waiting for his flight. He made a CD of some of his favorite songs at age 82…still carrying a perfect pitch! While in his 80’s, he often took his Karaoke Machine to the nursing home to sing for the residents there.
He loved his church, Highland United Methodist, where he was a constant staple in the choir, as well as singing many solos.
Joe left this world and entered his heavenly home at 9:28 a.m., Tuesday, October 10.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Martha, his 13 brothers and sisters and their spouses.
He is survived by a son, Tommy Ray Ward and wife, Cindy, of Odessa; daughter, Jo Katherine Cox and husband, Larry, of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren, Chris Cox, Marcus Cox, Billyjoe Ward, Mary Ward, and Rachel Ward Smedley; ten great-grandchildren, along with numerous loved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Chapel in Odessa.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate in loving memory of Joe Ward to Highland Methodist Church in Odessa.
