Robert L. Ward

Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled graveside services with military rites for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26th at Squaw Creek Cemetery in Rainbow, TX. The family will receive friends from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Wiley Funeral Home in Glen Rose.

Mr. Ward, the son of Grethcie Ann “Reedie” Cargill and Walter Preston Ward, was born June 5, 1921, in Nashville, TN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Neoma Foreman Ward, a daughter, Beverly Jane Humphrey & husband Jimmie Donald, siblings, Walter Ward, Preston Ward, and Elmer Ward, a great grandson, Luke Humphrey, and his beloved dog, Daisy.

Survivors include a sister, Thelma Hanson of Denton, children, Bobby Ward & wife Patricia of Platte City, MO, Emily Lee Eaton of Bedford, and Lawana Lynn Roberts of Jacksonville, grandchildren, Dan Ward & wife Brenda of Platte City, MO, Doug Ward & wife Caprice of Lenexa, KS, Leslie Wise & husband David of Roanoke, Kirk Willingham & wife Lisa of Jacksonville, Loretta Roberts of Springfield, IL, Daryle Humphrey & wife Melissa of Possum Kingdom Lake, Landy Humphrey & wife Carla of Rainbow, and Alan Humphrey & wife Elsie of Granbury, great grandchildren; Parker, Peyton, Rhen, Spencer, Dempsey, Keaton, Dalton, Summer, Chevy & wife Shae, Vanessa & husband Adam, Samantha, Austin & wife Amanda, Clint & wife Shelby, Hayden, and Nicole, great great grandchildren; Quill, Rye, Kynlee Rae, Hunter, Daisey, Aiden, Anders, Maverick and Madeline, nieces, Rose Lee of Denton and Roxie Oaks Guidry of Church Point, LA along with a host of friends.

R. L. “Papaw” loved and adored Neoma, his faithful wife of 69 years….he loved his family and his dog, Daisey…he loved to fish and ride around in the countryside, he loved flea markets and haggling, but he mostly enjoyed interacting with people while “making the rounds”…Sometimes a little rough around the edges, he had the heart of a teddy bear.

Born and raised post WWI, through the Great Depression and right into WWII…He was the epitome of America’s “greatest generation”…spending his 23rd birthday on a boat in the English Channel, he stepped off the next day onto the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944…3 months later he would be awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received from an enemy aircraft machine gun in northern France. After a lengthy convalescence and non-combat duty, VE Day brought him back to America, where he and hundreds of thousands just like him, quietly went to their families and homes and began to build the American dream that we now enjoy.

Casket bearers will be: Daryl Humphrey, Landy Humphrey, Alan Humphrey, Chevy Humphrey, Clint Humphrey, Adam Voelkel, Bryan Lott, and Dan Ward. Honorary bearers will be Preston Ward and Hayden Humphrey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 261, Paris, TX 75461.