John Bascom Ward

John Bascom Ward Jr. went home on Monday, February 4 to be with the Savior he so faithfully served. He was born October 9, 1920 to John Bascom Ward and Monnie Donnell in Lexington, Oklahoma. He graduated from Hugo High School and then attended Oklahoma Baptist University where he was a member of the first Bison Glee Club. It was at OBU that he met the love of his life, Lilah McGuire. They were married July 22, 1941 and celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2011. He volunteered for Navy service in 1941, and served from 1942-1945 in the Pacific Theater. He earned his Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1949. They were proud parents of John Fremont (Monty) and Harmony Jill Ward. Other survivors include daughter-in-law, Judy Cole, former daughter-in-law, Louanne Ward Trueblood, two grandchildren, Lance Ward (Jeni) and Laura Pope (Matt). He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Landon, Haley and Kyle Ward,, and Zoe Pope, his sisters Monnie Marie Wheelus and Nancy Ward. He was a Minister of Music in churches in Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida, and served the Baptist Annuity Board for ten years. John was the first Minister of Music to begin choir tours, and took many trips of youth across the United States. Most recently he and Lilah moved to the Baptist Village Retirement Center and organized a senior choir, The Singing Saints. They continue to sing and inspire, just as John did in the last days of his life.

John and Lilah were recognized as Oklahoma’s Volunteers of the year in 2010. He and Lilah have played a significant role in people’s lives since their beginning, and continue to do so as we reflect on their service today.