The family will receive guests on Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Griggs Schooler Gordon Funeral Home, 5400 S. Bell. Funeral Services will be held at 2pm on Monday, July 30, 2018 in Amarillo at First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson presiding. Interment will be in the Llano Cemetery East, Garden of Gethsemane, with full military honors by Amarillo Volleys for Veterans.
Ward was born December 17th of 1932 and was raised in North Jackson, Ohio by his parents Ward Albert and Eleanor Mary Akins. He went all 12 grades and graduated from Jackson Milton High School in 1950. He and his wife, Viola would have been married 66 years, Viola preceded him in death on May 27th, 2008. He retired from the US government with the FAA as an electronic technician. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Amarillo.
Survivors include two sons, Bob and wife Patty and Tom and wife Beverly, all from Amarillo, six grandchildren, Kyle Akins and wife Amanda and Alicia Akins all from Amarillo; Cherlyn Kirchhoff and husband Kevin and Tyler Akins all from San Antonio, TX; Josh Bryson and wife Misty from Vernon, TX and Joey Clements and wife Lori from Houston, TX. He was a proud great grandfather of 9, Chase Hunt and Ziegen Akins of Amarillo, Tucker Akins, Hannah Kirchhoff, Emma Kirchhoff and Georganne Akins all from San Antonio, TX, Chloe Clements, Alexa Clements and Finley Clements from Houston, TX; a sister Eleanor Hawkins and husband Tom and their children John and Patty Hawkins, all of North Jackson, OH; brother JT Dellis and sons Johnny and Harvey Dellis of Amarillo; Linda Kress and family, Bill Gilbert and family, David Gilbert and family and Steve Gilbert all of Saginaw, MI.
The family appreciated all of the Love, support and compassion from the wonderful caretakers at Ware for the great treatment given as well as the hospice care, he considered all of them friends. Ward will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.
