Stephen Buddy "Buddy" Ward

Steve “Buddy” Ward passed away on Wednesday, December 16th, 2015. He is survived by his wife Mary Ward, and his two sons John and Dan Flade. He loved life and was a hard working family man that always went above and beyond for his family and friends. We will miss him sorely, but look forward to seeing him again in Heaven. “We love You Pop – See you on the other side”.

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POP's Eulogy (12/29/15 -John Flade)

On behalf of the family, we want to thank all of you for coming to remember and pay your respects to Steve, or as many of you know him – “Buddy”. It was his wish that this be a celebration of his life and not a dismal occasion – so that is what it is going to be. As he was my pop – that is how I will refer to him throughout this remembrance.

As I reflect on the time we were blessed to have with him, things that he loved – come to mind. He was a man that loved the Lord – a fact that is a great blessing and consolation for us as a family. He loved and provided for his family like no one else I have ever witnessed. The man worked 7 days a week, sun up to sun down at times to make sure that the family that he chose to be a part of was well taken care of. Later in life he was grieved by the fact that his body no longer allowed him to do things he once could – but it was important to us to remind him that the reason his body had been broken was because of his sacrifices for us over many years. His example is what taught me the value of a strong work ethic – in fact he would take me to work with him often, I started doing drywall at the age of 6-7 years old. He himself began working at a very early age, so it was natural for him to teach me the same. Like is most fathers experience – I was more of a hindrance than help I’m sure, but he was happy to do it. It is time I will always remember and value greatly.

Pop did not have a good father example himself, so he was learning on the job – I can’t say he always made the best choices, but I can say that he did everything he could for our benefit. It takes a big man to pick up the pieces of a broken family and shoulder the responsibility yourself. He did so eagerly. Not only did he teach me how to be a man, but a pop of sorts, as I found myself in a very similar situation down the road and am proud of the family I have since adopted as my own.

I remember watching boxing with him as a boy, a sport that has gripped me to this day. More recently I watched NASCAR with him as it became his favorite sport. He was a huge Jeff Gordon fan – and this year was his last season racing. I was blessed to be able to watch Gordon win his last race with Pop – I realized the gravity of that moment and told him how proud I was to be able to share that with him.

He loved sitting on his porch and listening to the rain dance on the tin roof, as he enjoyed a cigarette… or 5. Even as I write this –The rain is dancing on my roof now – appropriate and not at all lost on me. We spent many hours talking about our passion for firearms and the day’s events. He told you the same stories over and over – each time with as much passion as the last – and it was a joy to hear them. He loved his mom, family, friends, and his beloved parrot Piper. His favorite past time though was to go down to his local hotspot - Jenny’s Diner, and tease the waitresses mercilessly. Those visits have garnered us friends that could very well last a lifetime.

He recently bought a Jeep – his pride and joy – in a color that very closely matched his hair. He loved bright wild colors, as it matched his sense of humor. I worked many hours on that Jeep to make it something he was proud to show anyone who would look at it. He was an old time Christian man and self-proclaimed hillbilly; with the long hair and beard he looked the part. I referred to him as ZZ Pop in jest. He loved the Gaithers and would watch the same shows over and over. Some of those songs are being played today as he wished.

My mom recently reminded me of their trip to Branson Missouri when Pop decided to put my mom on a helicopter, he thought it would scare her – to his surprise she loved it. As sweet as my mom is, she does not scare easily – a fact reiterated not long ago when a man approached my parents on their porch in a rage and threatened their lives. My mom chased him off the porch – causing him to run away in shock and fear. They complimented each other well.

His character is that of a dying breed. Those who knew him know he was a direct man. If he liked you, you knew it. If he didn’t, well that wasn’t a secret either. You learned quickly not to ask him a question that you might not want a truthful answer to – because he wouldn’t lie to you. A piece of pop’s personality I inherited that my wife has become all too familiar with. If you needed him, he was there – no matter what. His word was dependable. He taught me how to look a man in the eye, shake his hand and treat him with respect in humble confidence. He was a proud man, meaningful words did not come easy to him – but he was a man of purpose, and what he could not say with words – he always said with actions. Proud as he was – age teaches us humility. For all he had done for me, I was privileged to come over on Sundays after church and help him with whatever he needed. I cherish those Sundays, we prayed together every weekend before we left – Thanking God for another time of fellowship and family togetherness.

A few weeks ago as my wife and I were leaving after a Sunday visit, I discovered that my tire had gone flat. I found it odd that I was unable to remove the tire to change it as I had often done. Pop sprang into action and drove me home to get more tools and a floor jack. It made him feel good that he was needed and was able to fill that familiar role of provider and dad again. In retrospect the reason for the difficulty is obvious – God had given us one more chance to team up again. I am so thankful for that flat tire now. Incidentally, He ran a red light on the way home – when I pointed it out to him – he just laughed. He was as awnry as they come. He often joked about being buried upside down – if the meaning behind that is not obvious, come see me after the service….

In a world that no longer seems to value what’s right, virtuous and true – things like faith, honor, dependability and family values – he passed these things on to my brother and I. I try to live by these precepts. As long he remains in our hearts memories, he remains here with us. Pop was one of a kind, and his wish is that we would reflect in a state of positive mourning.

Laughing – not crying. Wishing – not weeping. Living and loving life in his memory.

We are a family of faith, and God has held us up – standing firmly when we should have fallen. Pop wrote me a letter telling me how much he loved Jesus, and that he had asked Him to forgive his sins. Now as he visits with his mom, friends and family past – we look forward to seeing him once again. And I’m sure he is planning his next prank ahead of our arrival. I don’t know if he is able to look down from heaven on us now, but if he is…be sure he is smiling – laughing in fact. He used to laugh and tell us that he was going first so that he could beat us there and laugh about it. I hope I made him proud, as proud as I am to call him “Pop”.

So walk out today with your heads held high, your countenance lifted, and share your memories of him fondly. It is his and his families wish that if don’t know the Lord – that you would inquire of Him. His mercy and love is endless, and is an ever present help in time of need, any time & any need.

As you walk out – please take a yellow rose with you. The yellow rose represents friendship, joy & caring. He was tickled to death at the thought of everyone walking out with a yellow rose in hand and this is his gift to you. Take them from any flower arrangement up here – that is why they were purchased. And if anyone would like to come up and share a brief thought or memory of Pop – please feel free to do so.

We love you Pop – see you soon.

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Stephen "Buddy" Ward was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver.

His parents were Mom - Dorothy Ward. Always able to express himself well, Buddy possessed strong interpersonal skills. Armed with a great wit, Buddy was raised to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Buddy was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Buddy’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Buddy was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. His primary occupation was Drywall Finisher.

Buddy was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Pop loved to watch NASCAR.

Buddy held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. Pop was a Southern Baptist born again Christian Man.

Buddy was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. This is how everyone will remember Stephen "Buddy" Ward.