William Eldred Ward III

The son of William E. Ward Jr. and Rosalee Lynn Ward, he was born April 6, 1928 in Nashville. He attended Parmer School and graduated from Sewanee Military Academy and Vanderbilt University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary leadership fraternity. He was president of Baird Ward Printing Company. In that industry, he served as Vice President of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and as President of the Research and Engineering Council of the the Graphic Arts. He was also the executive producer of the syndicated TV show “Country Suite.” He was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of Belle Meade Country Club, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves and president of alumni at SMA. He was an avid hunter and a National Rifle Association instructor and master competition sharpshooter, winning a host of tournaments. He married Jo Ann Blackwood, and they had three children: William E. Ward IV of Hopkins, Minn.; Anne Claiborne Ward of Nashville, and James Eatherly Ward II of Nashville. He later was married to Margaret Sims Ward for 35 years until her passing in 2009. He loved boating and served as a president of Commodore Yacht Club. He was active in the Episcopal Church for most of his life, a warden as St. George’s and the first senior warden at St. David’s. He was also a life long leading layman at St Bartholomew’s where he served on the vestry for many years. He also served several terms on the Bishops Council and was awarded the Bishops Cross in 1997.

Along with his children, he is survived by his sister Jean Ward Oldfield and grandchildren Jennifer Ward Moody of Columbia, James Eatherly Ward III of Prescott, Arizona and Caitlyn Elizabeth Ward of Nashville.

Honorary Pallbearers serving are Chuck Richey, Ed Schoenberger, John Downton, Langley Granbery, Tim Villager, and Robert Smith.

Funeral Services will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 19th of 2012 at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 4800 Belmont Park Terrace, Nashville, TN 37215. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from ten o’clock until the time of service; with a reception to follow.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that contributions be directed to St. Jude Children Research Hospital or Alzheimer’s Association.