Delpha Lou Ward

Born June 10, 1949 in Hot Springs, Delpha Lou Reese was brought into the world. She was affectionately ribbed as a child, and yes sometimes even as she grew older with this little jingle, “Delpha Lou where's my home brew!” Delpha took it as a badge of honor all her life. It grieves our hearts to inform friends and relatives of her passing on Sunday, February 9, 2025 around 8:00 a.m. in Lubbock, Texas. She had been suffering with pain for a very long time and it seemed every year for the last few years, she was always in and out of the hospital with the flu as well as surviving COVID, and while we don't know yet what took her life, we do know for now and forever she has the ultimate healing, and will never hurt or be sick again; she simply went home to be with our Lord and Savior. At the young age of 75, Delpha will be sorrowfully missed by all her loved ones and friends. She left behind her loving smile, her robust laugh, her outspoken and loving demeanor towards others.

Delpha Reese met the love of her life, and married Willis Ward in 1967. He proceeded her in death on March 18, 2000. Both leaving behind the second love of her life, their one and only son, Gary DeWayne “Pee Wee” Ward who resides in Tulsa. Sadly, she was proceeded in death by her father, Hershel Reese; her mother, Flora Dollard Smith; her oldest sister, Gloria Lairemore; a brother, Hershel Reese; and her stepfather, Alvy Smith Jr.

Her remaining siblings are Sarah Cates, Brenda Ward, Gary Smith, Frances Young, Melissa Navarrette, Stella Dominquez, and Rodney Smith.

Delpha was small in stature but larger than life, nothing hindered nor stopped this spitfire of a woman from doing anything she set her mind to do. Once she found Willis Ward, he was no match for her loving smile and beautiful wits. He was truly a man whose woman "stood by her man;" for those of you who are still wet behind the ears, it was a popular song in 1968 by Tammy Wynette called "Stand by Your Man." Delpha stood by her man through thick and thin right up to his passing. After he passed, Delpha continued to live in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. She struggled with a lot of back pain from a board falling from a Ferris wheel in Tulsa. Even though life was painful she never let it get the best of her, she spent much of her time babysitting, and became a diehard Wendy's employee for over 32 years. The whole time she worked for them they were always trying to make her a manager, she declined, stating she would do the job without the headache or the title as she loved what she was doing. Eventually, she did accept. In 32 years, she had accumulated many toys from the Wendy's kid's meals and was very proud of them. She had a heart bigger than Texas and loved life. Delpha and Willis would often take nonperishable goods to shelters and food banks around Sapulpa and she continued giving after his passing when she could.

Delpha was a faithful and life-giving caretaker to her loving mother in the last years of her life, she even moved from Sapulpa, for several years to Artesia, NM to take care of her. After her mother passed, she went back home to her family and friends in Sapulpa to live, picking up her job at Wendy's until complications arose and her health began to bring her down in her later years of life.

Thanks go out to Claud and Regina Ward, her brother and sister in-law, who looked after her for many years. That's when another Ward stepped in and took her home to live with her, Brenda Ward another wonderful and loving sister. Two women both having the same last name, claiming to be sisters! Family would tease them both about it at times, but neither could care less what others might think about them. They were like the movie "Grumpy Old Men," but instead "Grumpy Old Women." Thank you, Brenda, for taking such loving care of Delpha in her last years of life. Delpha loved our Lord and Savior. She would pray a prayer every night over her beloved son, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take; God bless Mamma, God bless Dad, and God bless all the aunts and uncles I have. Amen.” No doubt, Delpha prayed that same prayer every night of her life as Jesus Christ our Lord heard her prayers over and over and over with a smile on his face, and when she passed, he laid her soul to rest in His loving arms.

Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025 at Conley Cemetery in Mountainburg, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.